U.S. patent application number 16/137047 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-26 for flavorants.
The applicant listed for this patent is RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sawyer Austin Hubbard, Willie Dat Tran.
Application Number | 20200093181 16/137047 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68051875 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200093181 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hubbard; Sawyer Austin ; et
al. |
March 26, 2020 |
FLAVORANTS
Abstract
A smoking article is provided herein, which includes a power
source, a control component adapted to control power delivery from
the power source, a heating element, and an aerosolizable
composition comprising at least one flavorant derived from a plant
of the humulus lupulus and/or asimina triloba species or at least
one flavorant comprising a synthetic compound responsible for the
aroma and/or flavor of an artisan food item. The disclosure further
provides a method for providing a smoking article with flavors or
aromas of craft beer or flavors or aromas of artisan foods.
Inventors: |
Hubbard; Sawyer Austin;
(Winston-Salem, NC) ; Tran; Willie Dat;
(Winston-Salem, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. |
Winston-Salem |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68051875 |
Appl. No.: |
16/137047 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 40/30 20200101;
A24F 40/10 20200101; A24F 47/008 20130101; A24B 15/403 20130101;
A61M 11/041 20130101; A24D 1/14 20130101; A61M 15/009 20130101;
A24F 40/20 20200101; A24B 15/167 20161101; A24B 15/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00; A24B 15/16 20060101 A24B015/16; A24D 1/14 20060101
A24D001/14; A24B 15/40 20060101 A24B015/40; A61M 11/04 20060101
A61M011/04; A61M 15/00 20060101 A61M015/00 |
Claims
1. A smoking article, comprising: a power source; a control
component adapted to control power delivery from the power source;
a heating element; and an aerosolizable composition comprising: at
least one flavorant derived from a plant of the humulus lupulus
and/or asimina triloba species; or at least one flavorant
comprising a synthetic compound responsible for the aroma and/or
flavor of an artisan food item.
2. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the flavorant derived
from a plant of the humulus lupulus species comprises milled
hops.
3. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the flavorant derived
from a plant of the humulus lupulus species comprises a hop
extract.
4. The smoking article of claim 3, wherein the hop extract is an
extract obtained via supercritical extraction, organic solvent
extraction, or hot water extraction.
5. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the flavorant derived
from a plant of the humulus lupulus species comprises a hop
oil.
6. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the flavorant derived
from a plant of the humulus lupulus species comprises a flavorant
derived from one or more hops selected from the group consisting of
aalst, admiral, agnus, ahtanum, amarillo, aramis, azzacca, bohemie,
bor, bramling cross, bravo, brewer's gold, bullion, calypso,
cascade, centennial, challenger, chelan, chinook, citra, cluster,
coigneau, columbus, comet, crystal, el dorado, ella, eroica,
feux-coeur francais, first gold, fuggle, galaxy, galena, glacier,
goldings, greenburg, green bullet, hallertau mittlefruh, hallertau
herkules, hallertau magnum, hallertau taurus, harmonie, herald,
hersbrucker, horizon, huell melon, junga, kohatu, liberty, Lublin,
magnum, mandarina bavaria, marynka, merkur, millennium, moteuka,
mount hood, mount rainier, mosaic, nelson sauvin, newport,
northdown, northern brewer, nugget, opal, pacifica, pacific gem,
pacific jade, kazbek, palisade, perle, phoenix, pilgrim, pilot,
pioneer, polaris, polnischer lublin, poperinge, premiant, pride of
ringwood, progress, rakau, riwaka, rubin, saaz, San Juan ruby red,
santiam, saphir, satus, select, simcoe, sladek, smaragd, sonnet
golding, sorachi ace, southern cross, spalt, sterling,
sticklebract, strisselspalt, styrian atlast, styrian aurora,
styrian bobek, styrian celeia, styrian golding, summer, summit,
super alpha, super galena, super pride, sybilla, tardif de
Bourgogne, target, tettnanger, tillicum, tomyski, topaz, tradition,
ultra, vanguard, vic secret, vital, wai-iti, waimea, wakatu,
whitbread golding, wilamette, zeus, and zythos hops.
7. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the at least one
flavorant comprising a synthetic compound responsible for the aroma
and/or flavor of an artisan food item comprises a mixture of
synthetic compounds.
8. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the at least one
flavorant comprising a synthetic compound responsible for the aroma
and/or flavor of an artisan food item comprises a synthetic
compound or a mixture of compounds responsible for the aroma and/or
flavor of a regionally indigenous fruit.
9. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the synthetic compound
is a compound responsible for the aroma and/or flavor of a pawpaw
fruit, a persimmon, a black walnut, a scuppernong grape, a
muscadine grape, or an elderberry.
10. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the at least one
flavorant comprising a synthetic compound responsible for the aroma
and/or flavor of an artisan food item comprises a carbonyl, an
alcohol, a terpene, an aldehyde, a substituted furan, a ketone, an
aromatic hydrocarbon, an aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester, or a
combination of any two or more thereof.
11. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the at least one
flavorant comprising a synthetic compound responsible for the aroma
and/or flavor of an artisan food item comprises ethyl hexanoate,
ethyl butanoate, methyl hexanoate, methyl octanoate, ethyl
octanoate, methional, (E)-2-hexenal, phenylacetaldehyde,
(E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal, hexanal, furaneol, (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-nonatrienal
and (E,Z,Z)-2,4,7-decatrienal 2-pentanone, hexanal, toluene,
furfural, 2-hexenal, xylene, benzaldehyde, geraniol,
.beta.-phenylethanol formate, .gamma.-terpene, benzylalcohol,
phenylethanol, linalool, nonadienal, .beta.-ionone,
butyl-2-butenoate, hexyl acetate, propyl acetate, ethyl
trans-2-butenoate, hexyl-2-butenoate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate,
1-octanol, ethyl hexanoate, .beta.-citral, nonanal, decanal,
.beta.-citronellol, myrcenol, .beta.-ocimene, 1-limonene,
(E)-damascenone, dihydroedulan, ethyl-9-decenoate, 2-phenyl
ethanol, phenylacetaldehyde, nonanal, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate,
ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, methyl heptanoate, methyl octanoate,
methyl nonanoate, or a combination of any two or more thereof.
12. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aerosolizable
composition further comprises a polyhydric alcohol, a medicament, a
tobacco component, a tobacco-derived material, an additional
flavorant, and combinations thereof.
13. The smoking article of claim 12, wherein the polyhydric alcohol
is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene
glycol, and combinations thereof.
14. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aerosolizable
composition is of coated on, adsorbed by, or absorbed in at least a
portion of a substrate.
15. The smoking article of claim 1, further comprising a second
aerosolizable composition.
16. The smoking article of claim 15, wherein the first
aerosolizable composition comprises granules, pellets, beads,
discrete small units, extruded or compressed cylindrical or
spherical elements, milled materials, ovoid elements, irregularly
shaped elements, shredded pieces, flakes, capsules, or
microcapsules comprising the at least one flavorant derived from a
plant of the humulus lupulus and/or asimina triloba species; or the
at least one flavorant comprising a synthetic compound responsible
for the aroma and/or flavor of an artisan food item.
17. The smoking article of claim 16, wherein the first
aerosolizable composition comprises beads comprising milled
hops.
18. The smoking article of claim 15, comprising: a control body
portion including a first elongate tubular member having opposed
ends, and a power source disposed therein; a cartridge body portion
including a second tubular member having opposed first and second
ends, the first end being engaged with one of the opposed ends of
the control body portion, the cartridge body portion further
comprising a first aerosol generation arrangement disposed within
the second tubular member and configured to operably engage the
power source upon engagement between the one of the opposed ends of
the control body portion and the first end of the cartridge body
portion, the second end of the cartridge body portion facing toward
a mouth-engaging end of the aerosol delivery system; and a second
aerosol generation arrangement disposed between the first aerosol
generation arrangement and the mouth-engaging end of the aerosol
delivery system, the second aerosol generation arrangement being
either removably engaged with the cartridge body portion or housed
within the second tubular member of the cartridge body portion,
wherein the second aerosol generation arrangement includes the
first aerosolizable composition, and wherein the first
aerosolizable composition comprises granules, pellets, beads,
discrete small units, extruded or compressed cylindrical or
spherical elements, milled materials, ovoid elements, irregularly
shaped elements, shredded pieces, flakes, capsules, or
microcapsules comprising the at least one flavorant derived from a
plant of the humulus lupulus and/or asimina triloba species; or the
at least one flavorant comprising a synthetic compound responsible
for the aroma and/or flavor of an artisan food item
19. A method for providing a smoking article with flavors or aromas
of craft beer, comprising: obtaining material derived from a plant
of the humulus lupulus plant; and incorporating the material as a
flavorant within the smoking article of claim 1.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the material comprises milled
hops.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the material comprises a hop
extract.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the hop extract is an extract
obtained via supercritical extraction, organic solvent extraction,
or hot water extraction.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the hop extract comprises
essential oils.
24. A method for providing a smoking article with flavors or aromas
of artisan foods, comprising: identifying one or more chemical
compounds associated with the flavor or aroma of a food item; and
incorporating synthetic chemical compounds identical to the one or
more chemical compounds associated with the flavor of the food item
as a flavorant within the smoking article of claim 1.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one flavorant
comprising a synthetic compound responsible for the aroma and/or
flavor of an artisan food item comprises a synthetic compound
responsible for the aroma and/or flavor of a pawpaw fruit, a
persimmon, a black walnut, a scuppernong grape, a muscadine grape,
or an elderberry.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one flavorant
comprising a synthetic compound responsible for the aroma and/or
flavor of an artisan food item comprises a carbonyl, an alcohol, a
terpene, an aldehyde, a substituted furan, a ketone, an aromatic
hydrocarbon, an aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester, or a combination
of any two or more thereof.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one flavorant
comprising a synthetic compound responsible for the aroma and/or
flavor of an artisan food item comprises ethyl hexanoate, ethyl
butanoate, methyl hexanoate, methyl octanoate, ethyl octanoate,
methional, (E)-2-hexenal, phenylacetaldehyde, (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal,
hexanal, furaneol, (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-nonatrienal and
(E,Z,Z)-2,4,7-decatrienal 2-pentanone, hexanal, toluene, furfural,
2-hexenal, xylene, benzaldehyde, geraniol, .beta.-phenylethanol
formate, .gamma.-terpene, benzylalcohol, phenylethanol, linalool,
nonadienal, .beta.-ionone, butyl-2-butenoate, hexyl acetate, propyl
acetate, ethyl trans-2-butenoate, hexyl-2-butenoate, ethyl acetate,
butyl acetate, 1-octanol, ethyl hexanoate, .beta.-citral, nonanal,
decanal, .beta.-citronellol, myrcenol, .beta.-ocimene, 1-limonene,
(E)-damascenone, dihydroedulan, ethyl-9-decenoate, 2-phenyl
ethanol, phenylacetaldehyde, nonanal, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate,
ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, methyl heptanoate, methyl octanoate,
methyl nonanoate, or a combination of any two or more thereof.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to flavorants useful for
incorporation into products such as tobacco products including, but
not limited to, aerosol delivery articles. Of particular interest
are flavorants or components obtained or derived from ingredients
often associated with the craft beer industry and flavorants or
component obtained or synthetically prepared so as to mimic the
flavor and/or aroma of artisan or local food items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are popular smoking articles
that employ tobacco in various forms. Such smoking articles are
employed by heating or burning tobacco to generate aerosol (e.g.,
smoke) that may be inhaled by the smoker. Many smoking devices have
been proposed through the years as improvements upon, or
alternatives to, smoking products that require combusting tobacco
for use. Many of those devices purportedly have been designed to
provide the sensations associated with cigarette, cigar, or pipe
smoking, but without delivering considerable quantities of
incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products that result from the
burning of tobacco. To this end, there have been proposed numerous
smoking products, flavor generators, and medicinal inhalers that
utilize electrical energy to vaporize or heat a volatile material,
or attempt to provide the sensations of cigarette, cigar, or pipe
smoking without burning tobacco to a significant degree. See, for
example, the various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery
devices and heat generating sources set forth in the background art
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/432,406, filed Mar. 28, 2012, U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/536,438, filed Jun. 28, 2012, U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/602,871, filed Sep. 4, 2012, and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/647,000, filed Oct. 8, 2012,
which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0003] Certain tobacco products that have employed electrical
energy to produce heat for smoke or aerosol formation, and in
particular, certain products that have been referred to as
electronic cigarette products, have been commercially available
throughout the world. Representative products that resemble many of
the attributes of traditional types of cigarettes, cigars or pipes
have been marketed as ACCORD.RTM. by Philip Morris Incorporated;
ALPHA.TM., JOYE 510.TM. and M4.TM. by InnoVapor LLC; CIRRUS.TM. and
FLING.TM. by White Cloud Cigarettes; COHITA.TM., COLIBRI.TM., ELITE
CLASSIC.TM., MAGNUM.TM., PHANTOM.TM. and SENSE.TM. by Epuffer.RTM.
International Inc.; DUOPRO.TM., STORM.TM. and VAPORKING.RTM. by
Electronic Cigarettes, Inc.; EGAR.TM. by Egar Australia; eGo-C.TM.
and eGo-T.TM. by Joyetech; ELUSION.TM. by Elusion UK Ltd;
EONSMOKE.RTM. by Eonsmoke LLC; GREEN SMOKE.RTM. by Green Smoke Inc.
USA; GREENARETTE.TM. by Greenarette LLC; HALLIGAN.TM., HENDU.TM.,
JET.TM., MAXXQ.TM., PINK.TM. and PITBULL.TM. by Smoke Stik.RTM.;
HEATBAR.TM. by Philip Morris International, Inc.; HYDRO
IMPERIAL.TM. and LXE.TM. from Crown7; LOGIC.TM. and THE CUBAN.TM.
by LOGIC Technology; LUCI.RTM. by Luciano Smokes Inc.; METRO.RTM.
by Nicotek, LLC; NJOY.RTM. and ONEJOY.TM. by Sottera, Inc.; NO.
7.TM. by SS Choice LLC; PREMIUM ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE.TM. by
PremiumEstore LLC; RAPP E-MYSTICK.TM. by Ruyan America, Inc.; RED
DRAGON.TM. by Red Dragon Products, LLC; RUYAN.RTM. by Ruyan Group
(Holdings) Ltd.; SMART SMOKER.RTM. by The Smart Smoking Electronic
Cigarette Company Ltd.; SMOKE ASSIST.RTM. by Coastline Products
LLC; SMOKING EVERYWHERE.RTM. by Smoking Everywhere, Inc.;
V2CIGS.TM. by VMR Products LLC; VAPOR NINE.TM. by VaporNine LLC;
VAPOR4LIFE.RTM. by Vapor 4 Life, Inc.; VEPPO.TM. by
E-CigaretteDirect, LLC and VUSE.RTM. by R. J. Reynolds Vapor
Company. Yet other electrically powered aerosol delivery devices,
and in particular those devices that have been characterized as
so-called electronic cigarettes, have been marketed under the
tradenames BLU.TM.; COOLER VISIONS.TM.; DIRECT E-CIG.TM.;
DRAGONFLY.TM.; EMIST.TM.; EVERSMOKE.TM.; GAMUCCI.RTM.; HYBRID
FLAME.TM.; KNIGHT STICKS.TM.; ROYAL BLUES.TM.; SMOKETIP.RTM. and
SOUTH BEACH SMOKE.TM..
[0004] It would be desirable to provide a smoking article that
employs heat produced by electrical energy to provide the
sensations of cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking, and that
incorporates unique flavors in the vapor-producing material(s). It
would be further desirable to incorporate such unique flavors in
other types of tobacco products.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention provides tobacco products
incorporating ingredients and flavorants often associated with
products from the craft brewing industry and/or ingredients and
flavorants reminiscent of flavors or aromas often associated with
artisan or local foods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In order to provide an understanding of embodiments of the
invention, reference is made to the appended drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which reference numerals
refer to components of example embodiments of the invention. The
drawings are for example only, and should not be construed as
limiting the invention.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a sectional view through an electronic smoking
article comprising a cartridge and a control body and including a
reservoir housing according to an example embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an aerosol delivery device
comprising a cartridge body and a control body, the cartridge body
being illustrated in an exploded configuration and the control body
being illustrated in an assembled configuration according to an
example aspect of the present disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the cartridge body of FIG.
2 implementing an additional aerosol generation arrangement,
including one or more aerosol-generating elements, according to one
aspect of the present disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the additional aerosol
generation arrangement of FIG. 3, configured as a cartridge
including one or more aerosol-generating elements, according to
another aspect of the present disclosure; and
[0011] FIG. 5 4 is a cross-sectional view of a smokeless tobacco
product embodiment, taken across the width of the product, showing
an outer pouch filled with a smokeless tobacco composition and
comprising a flavorant as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The present invention now will be described more fully
hereinafter. This invention may, however, be embodied in many
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and
will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in
the art. As used in this specification and the claims, the singular
forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the
context clearly dictates otherwise. Reference to "dry weight
percent" or "dry weight basis" refers to weight on the basis of dry
ingredients (i.e., all ingredients except water).
[0013] The present disclosure generally relates to products
incorporating certain flavorants as will be described herein below.
The flavorants are referred to generally herein as plant-derived
flavorants or synthetic flavorant compounds and are derived or
prepared based on certain specific desired taste and/or aroma
characteristics. For example, certain flavorants are derived from a
plant of the humulus lupulus. Certain flavorants are derived from
(or created to mimic the flavors of) products such as fruits and
nuts that are local, artisan, and/or seasonal, such as the fruit of
the asimina triloba species.
[0014] The types of products encompassed by the present disclosure
vary and, as such, in some embodiments, the form of the flavorants
can similarly vary, as will be disclosed in detail herein. In
certain aspects, the disclosure relates to articles (and the
manufacture thereof) that use electrical energy to heat a material
(preferably without combusting the material to any significant
degree) to form an inhalable substance which include the
flavorants. In certain aspects, the disclosure relates to smokeless
tobacco products that include the flavorants. In certain aspects,
the disclosure relates to so-called "heat-not-burn" products that
include the flavorants.
[0015] In various embodiments, products and devices are provided
which incorporate one or more flavorants traditionally associated
with the craft beer industry. Such flavorants may be plant-derived
flavorants, for example, derived from a plant of the humulus
lupulus species (also referred to as a "hop plant"), e.g., from the
flowers of the plant (also referred to herein as "hops"). Hops,
often used in beer recipes, thrive largely in two geographic bands
that fall roughly between the 35th and 50th parallels on either
side of the equator. The vast majority of hops are grown in the
United States and Europe, although hops from other countries are
also known and can be used herein. A large number of American hops
come from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, but are also grown in many
other states. Hops include an alpha acid component that produces
the bitterness in beers that many consumers typically associate
with the flavor of hops.
[0016] Example hop varieties include, but are not limited to,
aalst, admiral, agnus, ahtanum, amarillo, aramis, azzacca, bohemie,
bor, bramling cross, bravo, brewer's gold, bullion, calypso,
cascade, centennial, challenger, chelan, chinook, citra, cluster,
coigneau, columbus, comet, crystal, el dorado, ella, eroica,
feux-coeur francais, first gold, fuggle, galaxy, galena, glacier,
goldings, greenburg, green bullet, hallertau mittlefruh, hallertau
herkules, hallertau magnum, hallertau taurus, harmonie, herald,
hersbrucker, horizon, huell melon, junga, kohatu, liberty, Lublin,
magnum, mandarina bavaria, marynka, merkur, millennium, moteuka,
mount hood, mount rainier, mosaic, nelson sauvin, newport,
northdown, northern brewer, nugget, opal, pacifica, pacific gem,
pacific jade, kazbek, palisade, perle, phoenix, pilgrim, pilot,
pioneer, polaris, polnischer lublin, poperinge, premiant, pride of
ringwood, progress, rakau, riwaka, rubin, saaz, San Juan ruby red,
santiam, saphir, satus, select, simcoe, sladek, smaragd, sonnet
golding, sorachi ace, southern cross, spalt, sterling,
sticklebract, strisselspalt, styrian atlast, styrian aurora,
styrian bobek, styrian celeia, styrian golding, summer, summit,
super alpha, super galena, super pride, sybilla, tardif de
Bourgogne, target, tettnanger, tillicum, tomyski, topaz, tradition,
ultra, vanguard, vic secret, vital, wai-iti, waimea, wakatu,
whitbread golding, wilamette, zeus, and zythos. In some
embodiments, a single hop variety is employed in the methods and
products herein and in some ingredients, a combination of two or
more hop varieties are employed. Hops can be selected, e.g., based
on the desired aroma characteristics (e.g., flowery, tropical,
citrus-like, earthy, grassy, piney, spicy/herbal, etc.). The form
of the hop variety or varieties incorporated as a flavorant within
products according to the present disclosure can vary. Hops are
commercially available, e.g., as whole leaf hops, powders, cones,
pellets, and as extracts.
[0017] In some embodiments, hops incorporated within products
according to the present disclosure are in solid form (e.g.,
milled, as will be described herein). Hops can be harvested from
the plant and directly used (in green form) or can be subjected to
various treatment processes such as, refrigeration, freezing,
drying (e.g., freeze-drying or spray-drying), irradiation,
yellowing, heating, cooking (e.g., roasting, frying or boiling),
fermentation, bleaching or otherwise subjected to storage or
treatment for later use. Hops are typically physically processed
before incorporation into a product as outlined herein. The
harvested hops (optionally following any one or more of the
treatments referenced above) can be further subdivided into parts
or pieces (e.g., shredded, cut, comminuted, pulverized, milled or
ground into pieces or parts that can be characterized as
filler-type pieces, granules, particulates or fine powders). The
harvested hops can be subjected to external forces or pressure
(e.g., by being pressed or subjected to roll treatment). The size
of the processed material can vary; in preferred embodiments, where
solid hop material is used, it is provided in a size suitable for
incorporation within the appropriate portion of a smoking article
(as will be outlined herein below). For example, in some
embodiments, solid hop material is milled so as to be employed in
powder form.
[0018] In some embodiments, the hops incorporated within products
according to the present disclosure are in liquid form. As such,
extracts are advantageously used (and can be, in some embodiments,
obtained directly from, e.g., whole leaf hops, powders, cones, or
pellets by methods known in the art). The material subjected to
extraction can be fresh, dried, or freeze-dried, and various
solvents can be used (which may affect the composition of the
resulting extract). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,803 to
Stark, U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,808 to Mitchell, and U.S. Pat. No.
4,282,259 to Wheldon et al., which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entireties. Hops typically contain resins, oils,
waxes, soluble material such as tannins, proteins, and pectins, and
a cellulosic matrix. In certain embodiments, hop extracts are used
which include components of the resins and/or oils. In some
embodiments, extracts including resin and/or oil components are
used. Hop resin generally includes humulones (including alpha acids
such as humulone, cohumulone, adhumulone, and posthumulone) and
lupulones (including weakly acidic beta acids such as lupulone,
colupulone, and adlupulone), and salts thereof. Hop oils include
"fixed," relatively involatile oils and/or volatile, "essential
oils" (which are understood to contribute, in large part, to the
aroma of hops). According to the present disclosure, in some
embodiments, a hop extract is employed which comprises one or more
of alpha acids, beta acids, and essential oils.
[0019] The composition of a given extract may be determined, at
least in part, by the method of extraction employed. According to
the present disclosure, hop extracts can be extracted using various
solvents and at various temperatures, which may affect the specific
components of the hop extract and the amounts of each component in
the hop extract. Solvents suitable for hop extraction include, but
are not limited to, water and organic solvents (such as methanol,
ethanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, etc.).
Extractions can be done at temperatures below room temperature, at
room temperature, at elevated temperatures, or under supercritical
conditions.
[0020] In particular embodiments, an isolated hop oil is employed.
Although not limited thereto, in some embodiments, the hop oil is
provided by steam distillation. Various isolated hop oils are
commercially available and can be used in the products of the
present disclosure. Exemplary compounds present in certain hop oils
may include, but are not limited to one or more of myrcene,
dipentene, carophyllene, humulene, linalool, and methyl nonyl
ketone.
[0021] In some embodiments, the flavorants employed in the products
and methods provided herein are flavorants that are associated with
certain foods, such as fruits and nuts that are available locally
(referred to as "regionally indigenous") and/or seasonally and/or
which are considered "artisan" foods. Various food items have
pleasant and, in some cases, unique, aromatic properties that can
advantageously employed within the disclosed products. In
particular, in some embodiments, such food items do not have wide
distribution (e.g., as they are only produced/grown in a limited
area, have very short shelf life, and/or are only produced/grown
during a limited season of the year). Although not intending to be
limiting, certain examples of such food items are paw paws
(tropical fruits native to the eastern United States), persimmons,
black walnuts, scuppernongs, muscadines, and elderberries.
According to the present disclosure, components of such foods or
synthetically produced compounds associated with the one or more
such components can be incorporated within the disclosed products
to endow them with beneficial sensory characteristics.
[0022] In certain embodiments, articles are provided which
incorporate one or more flavorants associated with fruits of the
asimina triloba tree (also referred to herein as "pawpaws"). The
pawpaw is a small deciduous tree native to the eastern United
States and Canada. The pawpaw fruit is a large, yellowish-green to
brown fruit. Pawpaw fruits generally have a strong aroma, with a
sweet, custardish flavor, somewhat similar to banana, mango,
pineapple, and/or cantaloupe. There are over 80 varieties of
pawpaws, with more than 40 named varieties of pawpaw fruits, each
may have different characteristics, e.g., different flavors and
aromas. The pawpaw fruit has been found to contain high levels of
phenols and flavonoids, with volatile components attributable to
the aroma including mainly ethyl and methyl esters of fatty acids
(e.g., ethyl hexanoate, ethyl butanoate, methyl hexanoate, methyl
octanoate, and/or ethyl octanoate).
[0023] One or more compounds (including at least one compound that
provides desirable sensory characteristics) extracted from the
pawpaw fruit can, in some embodiments, be incorporated within the
disclosed product. As described above with respect to hops, an
extract of the pawpaw fruit can be provided for inclusion within
products according to the present disclosure. Methods for providing
pawpaw fruit pulp are widely known and, in some embodiments, such
pulp can be pressed and filtered or extracted to obtain a liquid
suitable for incorporation within the disclosed products.
[0024] In other embodiments, synthetic versions of one or more
aroma compounds associated with the pawpaw fruit can be prepared
and incorporated within the disclosed products. For example, in
some embodiments, one or more of ethyl hexanoate, ethyl butanoate,
methyl hexanoate, methyl octanoate and ethyl octanoate are
incorporated within the disclosed products, and typically, such
products will include ethyl hexanoate (understood to contribute
significantly to the aroma of the pawpaw fruit). The use of
synthetic compounds in this manner can address issues with respect
to limited availability of the pawpaw fruit, providing sensory
characteristics reminiscent of the pawpaw fruit year-round and in
all geographic locations. Typically, although not limited thereto,
to mimic the unique aroma of pawpaw fruit (or other food items), a
mixture of two or more synthetic chemical compounds is
provided.
[0025] Such processes can be similarly applied for other food
items, e.g., fruits and nuts, particularly those with limited
availability as referenced above. As such, extracts/liquids
produced from other food items can be employed in the products
disclosed herein or synthetically prepared compounds associated
with the taste or aroma of such food items can be used in the
disclosed products to mimic the sensory characteristics
thereof.
[0026] For example, persimmons have been described as having an
aroma indicative of fresh peach, orange, sweet, woody, floral,
green, and/or potato. Persimmon extracts can be prepared or
obtained (as persimmon extracts are commercially available) and can
be employed for this purpose. Alternatively, compounds associated
with the sensory characteristics of persimmons (e.g., methional,
(E)-2-hexenal, phenylacetaldehyde, (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal, hexanal,
furaneol, (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-nonatrienal and (E,Z,Z)-2,4,7-decatrienal)
can be synthesized or obtained for inclusion within the disclosed
products to mimic the aroma, of persimmons.
[0027] Black walnuts have been described as having an aroma and
taste that is nutty, bold and smoky. Black walnut extracts can be
prepared or obtained (as black walnut extracts are commercially
available) and can be employed for this purpose. Alternatively,
compounds associated with the sensory characteristics of black
walnuts (e.g., carbonyls, alcohols, and terpenes) can be
synthesized or obtained for inclusion within the disclosed products
to mimic the aroma of black walnuts.
[0028] Scuppernongs and muscadines have been described as having
intense aromas, e.g., a musky aroma. Scuppernong and muscadine
extracts can be prepared or obtained and can be employed for this
purpose. Scuppernongs can be treated, e.g., so as to obtain steam
volatile oils. See, e.g., J. Food Sci. 49 (1): 64-66, January 1984,
which is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, compounds
associated with the sensory characteristics of scuppernongs (e.g.,
aldehydes, substituted furans, ketones, alcohols, aromatic and
aliphatic hydrocarbons, terpenes, and esters, such as 2-pentanone,
hexanal, toluene, furfural, 2-hexenal, xylene, benzaldehyde,
geraniol, .beta.-phenylethanol formate, .gamma.-terpene,
benzylalcohol, phenylethanol, linalool, nonadienal, and/or
.beta.-ionone) can be synthesized or obtained for inclusion within
the disclosed products to mimic the aroma of scuppernongs.
Muscadines can be treated, e.g., via solid phase extraction to
obtain an extract. See, e.g., Food Sci. BioTech 25 (5): 1319-1326,
October 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Alternatively, one or more of the compounds associated with the
sensory characteristics of muscadines (e.g., butyl-2-butenoate,
hexyl acetate, propyl acetate, ethyl trans-2-butenoate,
hexyl-2-butenoate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, 1-octanol, ethyl
hexanoate, .beta.-citral, nonanal, decanal, .beta.-citronellol,
myrcenol, .beta.-ocimene, and 1-limonene) can be synthesized or
obtained for inclusion within the disclosed products to mimic the
aroma of muscadines.
[0029] Elderberries have been described as exhibiting aromas such
as fruity/sweet. Elderberry extracts can be prepared or obtained
and can be employed for this purpose. For example, elderberries can
be air-dried and crushed and subjected to distillation. See, e.g.,
Nat. Vol. & Essent. Oils 1 (1): 51-54 (2004), which is
incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, compounds
associated with the aroma of elderberries (e.g., (E)-damascenone,
dihydroedulan, ethyl-9-decenoate, 2-phenyl ethanol,
phenylacetaldehyde, nonanal, and aliphatic esters such as ethyl
2-methylbutanoate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, methyl heptanoate,
methyl octanoate, and methyl nonanoate).
[0030] The plant-derived flavorant material (e.g., solid, extract,
or oil) and/or synthetic flavorant compound(s) described herein
above can be incorporated within various types of products, as will
be detailed herein. The material can be used, for example, as a
component of tobacco products, such as a component of tobacco
burning products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobaccos, and the
like), tobacco heating smoking articles (e.g., cigarettes such as
those sold under the brand name Eclipse by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company), smokeless tobacco products (e.g., moist snuff, chewing
tobacco, snus and so-called dissolvable tobacco products),
so-called electronic cigarettes, and the like.
[0031] For example, in some embodiments, the disclosed flavorants
are incorporated within smoking articles. Typically, the smoking
articles are sufficiently compact to be considered "hand-held"
devices. As used herein, the term "smoking article" is intended to
mean an article that provides many of the sensations (e.g.,
inhalation and exhalation rituals, types of tastes or flavors,
organoleptic effects, physical feel, use rituals, visual cues such
as those provided by visible aerosol, and the like) of smoking a
cigarette, cigar, or pipe without any substantial degree of
combustion of any component of the article. As used herein, the
term "smoking article" does not necessarily mean that, in
operation, the article produces smoke in the sense of the aerosol
resulting from by-product of combustion or pyrolysis of tobacco,
but rather, that the article yields vapors (including vapors within
aerosols that can be considered to be visible aerosols that might
be considered to be described as smoke-like) resulting from
volitization or vaporization of certain components of the article
or device. In some embodiments, articles characterized as smoking
articles incorporate tobacco and/or components derived from tobacco
(e.g., including, but not limited to, nicotine).
[0032] In some embodiments, the articles provided according to the
present disclosure can be characterized as being vapor-producing
articles, aerosolization articles, or medicament delivery articles.
Thus, the articles can be arranged so as to provide one or more
substances (e.g., flavors and/or pharmaceutical active ingredients)
in an inhalable form or state. For example, inhalable substances
can be substantially in the form of a vapor (i.e., a substance that
is in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical
point). Alternatively, inhalable substances can be in the form of
an aerosol (i.e., a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid
droplets in a gas). For purposes of simplicity, the term "aerosol"
as used herein is meant to include vapors, gases and aerosols of a
form or type suitable for human inhalation, whether or not visible,
and whether or not of a form that might be considered to be
smoke-like.
[0033] In use, smoking articles that can be manufactured according
to the present disclosure may be subjected to many of the physical
actions of an individual in using a traditional type of smoking
article (e.g., a cigarette, cigar or pipe that is employed by
lighting with a flame and used by inhaling tobacco that is
subsequently burned). For example, the user of a smoking article of
the present disclosure can hold that article much like a
traditional type of smoking article, draw on one end of that
article for inhalation of aerosol produced by that article, take
puffs at selected intervals of time.
[0034] In one embodiment, the plant-derived flavorant material or
synthetic compound(s) described herein above are incorporated
within a traditional electronic cigarette. Various types and
configurations of electronic cigarettes are known and can be
adapted so as to incorporate an oil, extract, or synthetic
compound(s) as disclosed herein. Some exemplary designs and
component arrangements can be appreciated upon consideration of the
commercially available electronic smoking articles, such as those
representative products listed in the background of the present
disclosure.
[0035] Typical electronic cigarettes include some combination of
power source (i.e., an electrical power source), at least one
control component (e.g., means for actuating, controlling,
regulating and ceasing power for heat generation, such as by
controlling electrical current flow the power source to other
components of the article), a heater or heat generation component
(e.g., an electrical resistance heating element or component
commonly referred to as an "atomizer"), and an aerosol precursor
component (e.g., commonly a liquid capable of yielding an aerosol
upon application of sufficient heat, such as ingredients commonly
referred to as "smoke juice," "e-liquid" and "e-juice"), and a
mouthend region or tip for allowing draw upon the smoking article
for aerosol inhalation (e.g., a defined air flow path through the
article such that aerosol generated can be withdrawn therefrom upon
draw).
[0036] Alignment of the components within the article can vary. In
specific embodiments, the aerosol precursor component can be
located near an end of the article (e.g., with a cartridge, which
in certain circumstances can be replaceable and disposable) that is
proximal to the mouth of a user so as to maximize aerosol delivery
to the user. Other configurations, however, are not excluded.
Generally, the heater component can be positioned sufficiently near
that aerosol precursor component so that heat from the heater
component can volatilize the aerosol precursor (as well as one or
more flavorants, medicaments, or the like that may likewise be
provided for delivery to a user) and form an aerosol for delivery
to the user. When the heating member heats the aerosol precursor
component, an aerosol is formed, released, or generated in a
physical form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. It should be
noted that the foregoing terms are meant to be interchangeable such
that reference to release, releasing, releases, or released
includes form or generate, forming or generating, forms or
generates, and formed or generated. Specifically, an inhalable
substance is released in the form of a vapor or aerosol or mixture
thereof. Additionally, the selection of various smoking article
components can be appreciated upon consideration of the
commercially available electronic smoking articles, such as those
representative products listed in the background art section of the
present disclosure.
[0037] The aerosol precursor component, which may also be referred
to as a vapor precursor composition, can comprise one or more
different components. For example, the aerosol precursor can
include a polyhydric alcohol (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, or
a mixture thereof). Representative types of further aerosol
precursor compositions are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,365 to
Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,839 to Jakob et al.;
PCT WO 98/57556 to Biggs et al.; and Chemical and Biological
Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn
Tobacco, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Monograph (1988); the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Aerosol
precursor compositions can include further liquid materials, such
as water. For example, aerosol precursor compositions can
incorporate mixtures of glycerin and water, or mixtures of
propylene glycol and water, or mixtures of propylene glycol and
glycerin, or mixtures of propylene glycol, glycerin, and water.
Exemplary aerosol precursor compositions also include those types
of materials incorporated within devices available through Atlanta
Imports Inc., Acworth, Ga., USA., as an electronic cigar having the
brand name E-CIG, which can be employed using associated Smoking
Cartridges Type C1la, C2a, C3a, C4a, C1b, C2b, C3b and C4b; and as
Ruyan Atomizing Electronic Pipe and Ruyan Atomizing Electronic
Cigarette from Ruyan SBT Technology and Development Co., Ltd.,
Beijing, China.
[0038] The aerosol precursor composition used in the disclosed
smoking article further can comprise one or more medicaments or
other inhalable materials. Particularly, an inhalable substance
delivered using a smoking article according to the present
invention can comprise a tobacco component or a tobacco-derived
material. For aerosol delivery systems that are characterized as
electronic cigarettes, the aerosol precursor composition most
preferably incorporates tobacco or components derived from tobacco.
In one regard, the tobacco may be provided as parts or pieces of
tobacco, such as finely ground, milled or powdered tobacco lamina.
In another regard, the tobacco may be provided in the form of an
extract, such as a spray dried extract that incorporates many of
the water soluble components of tobacco. Alternatively, tobacco
extracts may have the form of relatively high nicotine content
extracts, which extracts also incorporate minor amounts of other
extracted components derived from tobacco. In one regard, a
component that is derived from tobacco, and that may be employed in
a highly purified or essentially pure form, is nicotine (e.g.,
pharmaceutical grade nicotine). In some embodiments, nicotine is
provided as a synthetic compound for use in the disclosed articles.
In some embodiments, nicotine is provided in salt form, e.g., as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,033,909 to Cox et al. and U.S. Pat.
No. 9,738,622 to Dull et al. and Perfetti, Beitrage Tabakforschung
Int., 12, 43-54 (1983), which are incorporated herein by reference
in their entireties.
[0039] Advantageously, the disclosed plant-derived flavorant and/or
synthetic flavorant compounds described herein above are
incorporated within the aerosol precursor to provide unique sensory
characteristics (e.g., aroma and/or flavor) to the consumer during
use (i.e., when the aerosol precursor is heated, as referenced
above). Such flavorants may, in some embodiments, be the sole
source of flavorant in the smoking article. For example, a smoking
article (or cartridge for use therein) can be specifically designed
so as to exhibit hops aroma/flavor, to exhibit pawpaw fruit
aroma/flavor, to exhibit persimmon aroma/flavor, to exhibit black
walnut aroma/flavor, to exhibit scuppernong aroma/flavor, to
exhibit muscadine aroma/flavor, to exhibit elderberry aroma/flavor,
or to exhibit some combination of such aromas/flavors. In other
embodiments, a plant-derived flavorant or synthetic flavorant
compound according to the present disclosure is used in combination
with other flavorants, such as those flavorants commonly employed
in such articles.
[0040] Such additional flavoring agents can be provided from
tobacco or from sources other than tobacco, can be natural or
artificial in nature, and can be employed as concentrates or flavor
packages. Exemplary additional flavoring agents include vanillin,
ethyl vanillin, cream, tea, coffee, fruit (e.g., apple, cherry,
strawberry, peach and citrus flavors, including lime and lemon),
maple, menthol, mint, peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, nutmeg,
clove, lavender, cardamom, ginger, honey, anise, sage, cinnamon,
sandalwood, jasmine, cascarilla, cocoa, licorice, and flavorings
and flavor packages of the type and character traditionally used
for the flavoring of cigarette, cigar, and pipe tobaccos. Syrups,
such as high fructose corn syrup, also can be employed. Such
additional flavoring agents also can include acidic or basic
characteristics (e.g., organic acids, such as levulinic acid,
succinic acid, lactic acid, and pyruvic acid). The flavoring agents
can be combined with the aerosol-generating material if desired.
Exemplary plant-derived compositions that may be used are disclosed
in US App. Pub. No. 2012/0152265 to Dube et al. and U.S. Pat. No.
9,107,453 to Dube et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated
herein by reference in their entireties.
[0041] Aerosol precursor compositions also may include ingredients
that exhibit acidic or basic characteristics (e.g., organic acids,
ammonium salts or organic amines). For example, certain organic
acids (e.g., levulinic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, and
pyruvic acid) may be included in an aerosol precursor formulation
incorporating nicotine, preferably in amounts up to being equimolar
(based on total organic acid content) with the nicotine. For
example, the aerosol precursor may include about 0.1 to about 0.5
moles of levulinic acid per one mole of nicotine, about 0.1 to
about 0.5 moles of succinic acid per one mole of nicotine, about
0.1 to about 0.5 moles of lactic acid per one mole of nicotine,
about 0.1 to about 0.5 moles of pyruvic acid per one mole of
nicotine, or various permutations and combinations thereof, up to a
concentration wherein the total amount of organic acid present is
equimolar to the total amount of nicotine present in the aerosol
precursor composition. However, in some aspects of the present
disclosure, the aerosol precursor composition is free of any acidic
(or basic) characteristics or additives.
[0042] Although, in some embodiments, the disclosed plant-derived
or synthetic flavorant(s) disclosed herein are incorporated within
the aerosol precursor composition, such flavorants can be
incorporated anywhere within the smoking article where aerosol is
generated therefrom. In some embodiments, these components (alone,
or in combination with one or more of the other inhalable
components referenced above) can be provided, e.g., in a reservoir.
In some embodiments, such components can be supplied directly to
the resistive heating element or may be provided on a substrate. As
such, defined aliquots of the disclosed flavorants (and/or other
inhalable material) may, in some embodiments, be separately or
simultaneously delivered to the resistive heating element to
release the flavor, medicament, or other inhalable material into an
air stream to be inhaled by a user along with the further
components of the aerosol precursor or vapor precursor
composition.
[0043] As one non-limiting example, a representative aerosol
precursor composition or substance can include one or more of the
plant-derived flavorants or synthetic flavorant compounds disclosed
herein, glycerin, propylene glycol, water, saline, and nicotine,
and combinations or mixtures of any or all of those components. For
example, in one instance, a representative aerosol precursor
composition may include (on a weight basis), in addition to the one
or more of the plant-derived flavorants or synthetic flavorant
compounds disclosed herein, about 70% to about 100% glycerin, and
often about 80% to about 90% glycerin; about 5% to about 25% water,
often about 10% to about 20% water; and about 0.1% to about 5%
nicotine, often about 2% to about 3% nicotine. In one particular
non-limiting example, a representative aerosol precursor
composition may include, in addition to one or more of the
plant-derived flavorants or synthetic flavorant compounds disclosed
herein, about 84% glycerin, about 14% water, and about 2% nicotine.
The representative aerosol precursor composition may also include
propylene glycol, optional flavoring agents or other additives in
varying amounts on a weight basis. In some instances, the aerosol
precursor composition may comprise, in addition to the one or more
of the plant-derived flavorants or synthetic flavorant compounds
disclosed herein, up to about 100% by weight of any of glycerin,
water, and saline, as necessary or desired.
[0044] The amount of one or more of the plant-derived flavorants or
synthetic flavorant compounds disclosed herein incorporated within
the aerosol precursor composition can vary and is dependent upon,
e.g., the strength of the flavor/aroma desired, the form (i.e.,
solid, oil, extract, or compound(s)) included, and the specific
properties exhibited by the plant-derived flavorants or synthetic
flavorant compounds. Such amounts could be readily adjusted to
achieve the desired level of organoleptic enhancement desired with
respect to use of the smoking article.
[0045] Representative types of aerosol precursor components and
formulations (into which the disclosed plant-derived flavorants or
synthetic flavorant compounds can be incorporated) also are set
forth and characterized in U.S. Pat. No. 7,217,320 to Robinson et
al. and U.S. Pat. Pub. Nos. 2013/0008457 to Zheng et al.;
2013/0213417 to Chong et al. and 2014/0060554 to Collett et al.,
the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Other aerosol precursors that may be employed include the aerosol
precursors that have been incorporated in the VUSE.RTM. product by
R. J. Reynolds Vapor Company, the BLU.TM. product by Lorillard
Technologies, the MISTIC MENTHOL product by Mistic Ecigs, and the
VYPE product by CN Creative Ltd. Also desirable are the so-called
"smoke juices" for electronic cigarettes that have been available
from Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC.
[0046] The amount of aerosol precursor that is incorporated within
the aerosol delivery system is such that the aerosol generation
arrangement(s) provide acceptable sensory and desirable performance
characteristics. For example, it is highly preferred that
sufficient amounts of aerosol forming material (e.g., glycerin
and/or propylene glycol), be employed in order to provide for the
generation of a mainstream aerosol (visible or not visible) that in
many regards resembles the appearance of tobacco smoke. The amount
of the aerosol precursor composition within the aerosol generation
arrangement(s) may be dependent upon factors such as the number of
puffs desired per aerosol generation arrangement. Typically, the
amount of the aerosol precursor composition incorporated within the
aerosol delivery system, and particularly within the aerosol
generation arrangement(s), is less than about 2 g, generally less
than about 1.5 g, often less than about 1 g and frequently less
than about 0.5 g.
[0047] An exemplary smoking article 10 according to the disclosure
is shown in FIG. 1. As seen in the surface illustrated therein, the
smoking article 10 can comprise a control body 80 and a cartridge
90 that can be aligned in a functioning relationship. In this
regard, the control body 80 and the cartridge 90 may be attachable
and detachable from each other. Although a threaded engagement is
illustrated in FIG. 1, it is understood that further means of
engagement are encompassed, such as a press-fit engagement, a
magnetic engagement, or the like. The cartridge can particularly
include a single use connector as otherwise described herein.
[0048] In specific embodiments, the control body 80 may be referred
to as being reusable and the cartridge 90 may be referred to as
being disposable. In some embodiments, the entire smoking article
may be characterized as being disposable in that the control body
may be configured for only a limited number of uses (e.g., until a
battery power component no longer provides sufficient power to the
smoking article) with a limited number of cartridges and,
thereafter, the entire smoking article 10, including the control
body, may be discarded. In other embodiments, the control body may
have a replaceable battery such that the control body can be reused
through a number of battery exchanges and with many cartridges.
Similarly, the smoking article 10 may be rechargeable and thus may
be combined with any type of recharging technology, including
connection to a typical electrical outlet, connection to a car
charger (i.e., cigarette lighter receptacle), and connection to a
computer, such as through a USB cable.
[0049] The control body 80 includes a control component 20, a flow
sensor 30, and a battery 40. Although these components are
illustrated in a specific alignment, it is understood that various
alignments of the components are encompassed by the present
disclosure. The control body 80 further includes a plurality of
indicators 19 at a distal end 12 of the control body shell 81. Such
indicators 19 can show the number of puffs taken or remaining from
the smoking article can be indicative of an active or inactive
status, can light up in response to a puff, or the like. The
indicators can be provided in varying numbers and can take on
different shapes and can even be simply an opening in the body
(such as for release of sound when such indicators are
present).
[0050] Various positions for one or more air intakes 17 are
encompassed by the present disclosure. As shown, the air intake 17
may be positioned in the control body shell 81 such that air drawn
through the intake sufficiently contacts the flow sensor 30 to
activate the sensor (although other positions are encompassed,
particularly if different sensing means are provided or if manual
actuation, such as with a push button, is provided). A receptacle
60 also is included at the proximal attachment end 13 of the
control body 80 and extends into the control body projection 82 to
allow for ease of electrical connection with the resistive heating
element 50 when the cartridge 90 is attached to the control body.
In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle 60 includes a central
open passage to facilitate air flow from the air intake in the
control body into the cartridge during use of the article 10.
[0051] The cartridge 90 includes a cartridge shell 91 with a mouth
opening 18 at the mouthend 11 thereof to allow passage of air and
entrained vapor (i.e., the components of the aerosol precursor
composition in an inhalable form) from the cartridge to a consumer
during draw on the smoking article 10. The smoking article 10
according to the present disclosure may have an overall shape that
may be defined as being substantially rod-like or substantially
tubular shaped or substantially cylindrically shaped. As
illustrated in FIG. 1, the smoking article 10 has a substantially
round cross-section; however, other cross-sectional shapes (e.g.,
oval, square, triangle, etc.) also are encompassed by the present
disclosure. Such language that is descriptive of the physical shape
of the smoking article may also be applied to the individual units
of the smoking article in embodiments comprising multiple units,
such as a control body and a cartridge.
[0052] In preferred embodiments, the smoking article 10 may take on
a size that is comparative to a cigarette or cigar shape. Thus, the
smoking article may have a diameter of about 5 mm to about 25 mm,
about 5 mm to about 20 mm, about 6 mm to about 15 mm, or about 6 mm
to about 10 mm. Such dimension may particularly correspond to the
outer diameter of the control body shell 81 and/or the cartridge
shell 91. The control body can have a length of about 50 mm to
about 110 mm, about 60 mm to about 100 mm, or about 65 mm to about
95 mm. The cartridge can have a length of about 20 mm to about 60
mm, about 25 mm to about 55 mm, or about 30 mm to about 50 mm. The
overall length of the combined cartridge and control body (or the
overall length of a smoking article according to the disclosure
formed of a single, unitary shell) can be approximately equal to or
less than the length of a typical cigarette--e.g., about 70 mm to
about 130 mm, about 80 mm to about 125 mm, or about 90 mm to about
120 mm.
[0053] The cartridge shell 91 of the smoking article 10 can be
formed of any material suitable for forming and maintaining an
appropriate conformation, such as a tubular shape, and for
retaining therein the suitable components of the smoking article.
The body can be formed of a single wall, as shown in FIG. 1. The
cartridge shell 91 can be formed of a material (natural or
synthetic) that is heat resistant so as to retain its structural
integrity--e.g., does not degrade--at least at a temperature that
is the heating temperature provided by the resistive heating
element. In some embodiments, a heat resistant polymer may be used.
In other embodiments, the body can be formed from paper, such as a
paper that is substantially straw-shaped, or from metal, such as
stainless steel. As further discussed herein, the body, such as a
paper tube, may have one or more layers associated therewith that
function to substantially prevent movement of vapor therethrough.
In one example, an aluminum foil layer may be laminated to one
surface of the body. Ceramic materials also may be used.
[0054] The cartridge 90 further includes a resistive heating
element 50 in the form of a metal wire coil. The resistive heating
element includes terminals 51 (e.g., positive and negative
terminals) at the opposing ends thereof for facilitating current
flow through the resistive heating element and for attachment of
the appropriate wiring (not illustrated) to form an electrical
connection of the resistive heating element with the battery 40
when the cartridge 90 is connected to the control body 80.
Specifically, a plug 65 is positioned at the distal attachment end
14 of the cartridge. When the cartridge 90 is connected to the
control body 80, the plug 65 engages the receptacle 60 to form an
electrical connection such that current controllably flows from the
battery 40, through the receptacle and plug, and to the resistive
heating element 50. The cartridge shell 91 can continue across the
distal attachment end such that this end of the cartridge is
substantially closed with the plug protruding therefrom. As
illustrated in FIG. 1, the plug 65 includes an open central passage
that aligns with the open central passage in the receptacle 60 to
allow air to flow from the control body 80 and into the cartridge
90.
[0055] Generally, in use, when a consumer draws on the mouthend 11
of the cartridge, the flow sensor 30 detects the change in flow and
activates the control component 20 to facilitate current flow
through the resistive heating element 50. Thus, it is useful for
air flow to travel through the control body 80 in a manner that
flow sensor 30 detects air flow almost instantaneously.
[0056] The control algorithm may call for power to the resistive
heating element 50 to cycle and thus maintain a defined
temperature. The control algorithm therefore can be programmed to
automatically deactivate the smoking article 10 and discontinue
power flow through the smoking article after a defined time lapse
without a puff by a consumer. Moreover, the smoking article can
include a temperature sensor to provide feedback to the control
component. Such sensor can be, for example, in direct contact with
the resistive heating element 50. Alternative temperature sensing
means likewise may be used, such as relying upon logic control
components to evaluate resistance through the resistive heating
element and correlate such resistance to the temperature of the
element. In other embodiments, the flow sensor 30 may be replaced
by appropriate components to provide alternative sensing means,
such as capacitive sensing. Still further, one or more control
buttons can be included to allow for manual actuation by a consumer
to elicit a variety of functions, such as powering the article 10
on and off, turning on the heating element 50 to generate a vapor
or aerosol for inhalation, or the like.
[0057] When the flow sensor 30 is positioned within the control
body 80, it can be useful to have an air intake 17 on the control
body. If desired, a sealed flow path can be provided such that the
flow sensor 30 within the control body 80 is in fluid connection
with the cartridge interior after the cartridge and the control
body are engaged, such fluid connection being sealed with respect
to the remainder of the components within the control body but
opening into the cartridge 90 when attached to the control body.
Further, in other embodiments, the flow sensor 30 can be located
within the cartridge 90 instead of the control body 80.
[0058] A reservoir may utilize a transport element to transport an
aerosol precursor composition to an aerosolization zone. As used
herein, the term "reservoir" refers to a receptacle or chamber for
holding, storing, or retaining a product such as a liquid, fluid,
or aerosol. One such example is shown in FIG. 1. As seen therein,
the cartridge 90 includes a reservoir layer 201 comprising layers
of nonwoven fibers formed into the shape of a tube encircling the
interior of the cartridge shell 91, in this embodiment. An aerosol
precursor composition is retained in the reservoir layer 201.
Liquid components, for example, can be sorptively retained by the
reservoir layer 201. The reservoir layer 201 is in fluid connection
with a transport element 301 (a wick in this embodiment). The
transport element 301 transports the aerosol precursor composition
stored in the reservoir layer 201 via capillary action to an
aerosolization zone 400 of the cartridge 90. As illustrated, the
transport element 301 is in direct contact with the resistive
heating element 50 that is in the form of a metal wire coil in this
embodiment.
[0059] In use, when a user draws on the article 10, the resistive
heating element 50 is activated (e.g., such as via a puff sensor),
and the components for the aerosol precursor composition are
vaporized in the aerosolization zone 400. Drawing upon the mouthend
11 of the article 10 causes ambient air to enter the air intake 17
and pass through the central opening in the receptacle 60 and the
central opening in the plug 65. In the cartridge 90, the drawn air
passes through an air passage 230 in an air passage tube 220 and
combines with the formed vapor in the aerosolization zone 400 to
form an aerosol. The aerosol is whisked away from the
aerosolization zone, passes through an air passage 260 in an air
passage tube 250, and out the mouth opening 18 in the mouthend 11
of the article 10. If desired, the air passage tube 250 can be
absent, and an open cavity may reside in the location for formation
of aerosol as the aerosol precursor composition is vaporized by the
resistive heating element 50.
[0060] The smoking article 10 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
1 can be characterized as a disposable article. Accordingly, it can
be desirable for the reservoir 201 in such embodiments to include a
sufficient amount of aerosol precursor composition and any further
inhalable materials so that a consumer can obtain more than a
single use of the smoking article. For example, the smoking article
can include sufficient aerosolizable and/or inhalable materials
such that the smoking article can provide a number of puffs
substantially equivalent to the number of puffs (of about two
seconds duration) available from a plurality of conventional
cigarettes--e.g., 2 or more, 5 or more, 10 or more, or 20 or more
conventional cigarettes. More particularly, a disposable, single
unit article according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 can provide
about 20 or more, about 50 or more, or about 100 or more puffs.
[0061] Although FIG. 1 is illustrative of a smoking article
according to the present disclosure, the scope of the disclosure
should not be viewed as being limited to the specific combination
and/or arrangement of components illustrated therein. Rather, the
present disclosure can encompass a variety of combinations of
components useful in forming an electronic smoking article.
Reference is made for example to the smoking articles disclosed in
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/536,438, filed Jun. 28, 2012,
and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/432,406, filed Mar. 28,
2012, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference
in their entirety. Further to the above, representative heating
element and materials for use therein are described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,060,671 to Counts et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,894 to Deevi et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,498 to Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,228,460 to Sprinkel Jr., et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,075 to Deevi
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,813 to Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,468,936 to Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,850 to Das; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,659,656 to Das; U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,855 to Deevi et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,225 to Hajaligol; U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,262 to
Hajaligol; U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,692 to Das et al.; and U.S. Pat. No.
5,591,368 to Fleischhauer et al., the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
[0062] The various components of a smoking article according to the
present invention can be chosen from components described in the
art and commercially available. Examples of batteries that can be
used according to the disclosure are described in US Pub. App. No.
2010/0028766, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
[0063] In another embodiment, the disclosed plant-derived
flavorants or synthetic flavorant compounds can be employed in a
device as disclosed generally in US Pat. Appl. Pub. No.
2015/0335070 to Sears et al., which is incorporated herein by
reference. One exemplary such aerosol-delivery device is depicted,
for example, in FIG. 2, and is described generally herein below. In
particular, FIG. 2 illustrates a partially exploded view of an
aerosol delivery system 100 including a cartridge body 200 and a
control body 300 (otherwise referred to herein as "cartridge body
portion" and "control body portion," respectively). The cartridge
body 200 and the control body 300 can be permanently or detachably
aligned, or removably engaged, in a functioning relationship.
Various mechanisms may be used to connect the cartridge body 200 to
the control body 300 to result in a threaded engagement, a
press-fit engagement, an interference fit, a magnetic engagement,
or the like. The aerosol delivery system 100 may be substantially
rod-like, substantially tubular shaped, or substantially
cylindrically shaped in some embodiments, when the cartridge body
200 and the control body 300 are in an assembled configuration. As
used herein, "tubular" is intended to refer to a hollow, elongated
body, but is not limited to a specific cross-sectional shape or to
a specific outer contour of the body. One skilled in the art will
also appreciate that, in some instances and though not described in
detail herein, the cartridge body 200 and the control body 300
forming the aerosol delivery system 100 may be configured in a
single-piece, non-detachable form and may incorporate the
components, aspects, and features associated with and disclosed in
the present disclosure.
[0064] In some instances, one or both of the cartridge body 200 and
the control body 300 may be referred to as being disposable (i.e.,
the single piece, non-detachable form previously disclosed) or as
being reusable. For example, a reusable control body 300 may have a
replaceable battery or a rechargeable battery and thus may be
combined with any type of recharging technology, including
connection to a typical alternating current electrical outlet,
connection to a car charger (i.e., cigarette lighter receptacle),
and connection to a computer, such as through a universal serial
bus (USB) cable. In general, an aerosol delivery system of the type
disclosed herein incorporates a battery or other electrical power
source to provide current flow sufficient to provide various
functionalities to the article, such as powering of a heater or
heating element, powering of control systems, powering of
indicators, and the like. The power source can take on various
embodiments. Preferably, the power source is able to deliver
sufficient power to rapidly heat the heating element to provide for
aerosol formation and power the article through use for the desired
duration of time. The power source preferably is sized to fit
conveniently within the aerosol delivery device/system so that the
aerosol delivery device/system can be easily handled; and
additionally, a preferred power source is of a sufficiently light
weight to not detract from a desirable smoking experience. Further,
in some instances, the cartridge body 200 may comprise a single-use
cartridge (i.e., disposable), as disclosed, for example, in U.S.
Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0060555 to Chang et al., which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Various
modifications to the structure of the smoking article can be
envisioned and are encompassed herein, e.g., as disclosed in US
Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2015/0335070 to Sears et al., which is
incorporated herein by reference. Still further features, controls
or components that can be incorporated into aerosol delivery
devices and systems of the present disclosure are described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al.; 5,934,289 to Watkins et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,560
to Fleischhauer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 8,365,742 to Hon; U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,402,976 and
8,689,804 to Fernando et al.; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2013/0192623
to Tucker et al.; 2013/0298905 to Leven et al.; 2013/0180553 to Kim
et al. and 2014/0000638 to Sebastian et al.; and U.S. Pat. App.
Pub. Nos. 2014/0261495 to Novak, III et al. and 2014/0261408 to
DePiano et al.; which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
[0065] The cartridge body 200 of FIG. 2 is illustrated in an
exploded configuration. As illustrated, the cartridge body 200 may
comprise a base shipping plug 202, a base 204, a control component
terminal 206, an electronic control component 208, a flow tube 210,
an atomizer 212, a reservoir substrate 214, an outer body 216, a
label 218, a mouthpiece 220, and a mouthpiece shipping plug 222
according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The
base 204 may be coupled to a first end of the outer body 216 and
the mouthpiece 220 may be coupled to an opposing second end of the
outer body 216 to enclose the remaining components of the cartridge
body 200 therein. The base 204 may be configured to removably
engage the coupler 302 of the control body 300. In some instances,
the base 204 may comprise anti-rotation features that substantially
prevent relative rotation between the cartridge body and the
control body as disclosed in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0261495
to Novak, III et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety. Various representative coupling mechanisms for
upstream and downstream components of electronic cigarettes have
been set forth in the patent literature and have been employed for
the production of commercially available electronic cigarettes. For
example, representative types of coupling mechanisms and components
for electronic cigarettes are described in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No.
2014/0261495 to Novak, III et al., and 2015/0216232, to Bless et
al., which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0066] The base shipping plug 202 may be configured to engage and
protect the base 204 prior to use of the cartridge body 200.
Similarly, the mouthpiece shipping plug 222 may be configured to
engage and protect the mouthpiece 220 prior to use of the cartridge
body 200. The control component terminal 206, the electronic
control component 208, the flow tube 210, the atomizer 212, and the
reservoir substrate 214 (engaging the aerosol precursor composition
or substance) may be retained within the outer body 216. The label
218 may at least partially surround the outer body 216 and include
information such as a product identifier thereon.
[0067] Alignment of the components within either or both of the
control body and the cartridge body of the aerosol delivery
device/system can vary. In particular aspects, the aerosol
precursor composition can be located near one end of the overall
article (e.g., within a cartridge body, which in certain
circumstances can be replaceable and disposable), which may be
configured to be positioned in relatively closer proximity to the
mouth of a user so as to maximize aerosol delivery to the user.
Other configurations, however, are not excluded. Generally, the
heating element can be positioned sufficiently near the aerosol
precursor composition so that heat from the heating element can
volatilize the aerosol precursor (and/or one or more flavorants,
medicaments, or the like that may likewise be provided for delivery
to a user) and form an aerosol for delivery to the user. When the
heating element heats the aerosol precursor composition, an aerosol
is formed, released, or generated in a physical form suitable for
inhalation by a consumer. It should be noted that the foregoing
terms are meant to be interchangeable such that reference to
release, releasing, releases, or released includes form or
generate, forming or generating, forms or generates, and formed or
generated. Specifically, an inhalable substance is released in the
form of a vapor or aerosol or mixture thereof. Additionally, the
selection of various aerosol delivery device components can be
appreciated upon consideration of the commercially available
electronic aerosol delivery devices, such as those representative
products listed above in the present disclosure.
[0068] The atomizer (i.e., an aerosol generation arrangement) 212
may comprise a first heating terminal 234a and a second heating
terminal 234b, a liquid transport element 238 and a heating element
240. In this regard, the reservoir and/or reservoir substrate 214
may be configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition. The
aerosol precursor composition, also referred to as a vapor
precursor composition, may comprise a variety of components, as
referenced above. Such components may include, by way of example,
any of a polyhydric alcohol (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, or a
mixture thereof), nicotine, tobacco, tobacco extract, water,
flavorants, and combinations thereof. As described above, in some
embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition comprises one or
more plant-derived flavorants or synthetic flavorant compounds
disclosed herein.
[0069] The reservoir substrate 214 may comprise a plurality of
layers of nonwoven fibers formed into the shape of a tube
encircling the interior of the outer body 216 of the cartridge body
200. Thus, liquid components, for example, can be sorptively
retained by the reservoir substrate 214. The reservoir substrate
214 is in fluid connection with the liquid transport element 238.
The liquid transport element 238 may be configured to transport
liquid (i.e., the aerosol precursor composition) from the reservoir
substrate 214 to the heating element 240 via capillary action.
Representative types of substrates, reservoirs or other components
for supporting the aerosol precursor composition are described in
U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,569 to Newton; and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos.
2014/0261487 to Chapman et al and 2015/0059780 to Davis et al.; and
U.S. application Ser. No. 14/170,838; filed Feb. 3, 2014, to Bless
et al.; which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally,
various wicking materials, and the configuration and operation of
those wicking materials within certain types of electronic
cigarettes, are set forth in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0209105
to Sears et al.; which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0070] As illustrated, the liquid transport element 238 may be in
direct contact with the heating element 240. As further illustrated
in FIG. 2, the heating element 240 may comprise a wire defining a
plurality of coils wound about the liquid transport element 238. In
some instances, the heating element 240 may be formed by winding
the wire about the liquid transport element 238 as described in
U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0157583 to Ward et al., which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Further, in some
instances, the wire may define variable coil spacing, as described
in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0270730 to DePiano et al., which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Various materials
configured to produce heat when an electrical current is applied
thereto may be employed to form the heating element 240. Example
materials from which the wire coil may be formed include Kanthal
(FeCrAl), Nichrome, molybdenum disilicide (MoSi.sub.2), molybdenum
silicide (MoSi), molybdenum disilicide doped with aluminum
(Mo(Si,Al).sub.2), graphite and graphite-based materials; and
ceramic (e.g., a positive or negative temperature coefficient
ceramic).
[0071] However, various other methods may be employed to form the
heating element 240, and various other aspects of heating elements
may be employed in the atomizer 212. For example, a stamped heating
element may be employed in the atomizer, as described in U.S. Pat.
App. Pub. No. 2014/0270729 to DePiano et al., which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety. Further to the above,
additional representative heating elements and materials for use
therein are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,671 to Counts et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,894 to Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,498 to
Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,460 to Sprinkel Jr., et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,322,075 to Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,813 to
Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,936 to Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,498,850 to Das; U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,656 to Das; U.S. Pat. No.
5,498,855 to Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,225 to Hajaligol;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,262 to Hajaligol; U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,692 to
Das et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,368 to Fleischhauer et al., the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties. Further, chemical heating may be employed in other
aspects. A variety of heater components may also be used in
particular aspects of the present aerosol delivery device/system.
In various instances, one or more microheaters or similar solid
state heating elements may be used. Exemplary microheaters that may
be utilized are further described herein. Further microheaters and
atomizers incorporating microheaters suitable for use in the
presently disclosed devices/systems are described in U.S. Pat. App.
Pub. No. 2014/0060554 to Collett et al., which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
[0072] The first heating terminal 234a and the second heating
terminal 234b (e.g., positive and negative terminals) at the
opposing ends of the heating element 240 are configured to form an
electrical connection (which may be a removable or detachable
connection) with the control body 300 when the cartridge body 200
is connected thereto. Further, when the control body 300 is coupled
to the cartridge body 200, the electronic control component 208 may
form an electrical connection with the control body 300 through the
control component terminal 206. The control body 300 may thus
employ the electronic control component 208 to determine whether
the cartridge 200 is genuine and/or perform other functions.
Further, various examples of electronic control components and
functions performed thereby are described in U.S. Pat. App. Pub.
No. 2014/0096781 to Sears et al., which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
[0073] During use, a user may draw on the mouthpiece or
mouth-engaging end 220 of the cartridge body 200 of the aerosol
delivery system 100. This may pull air through an opening in the
control body 300 and/or in the cartridge body 200. For example, in
one instance, an opening may be defined between the coupler 302 and
the outer body 304 of the control body 300, as described in U.S.
Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0261408 to DePiano et al., which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. However, the flow
of air may be received through other parts of the aerosol delivery
device/system 100 in other aspects. As noted above, in some aspects
the cartridge body 200 may include the flow tube 210. The flow tube
210 may be configured to direct the flow of air received from the
control body 300 to the heating element 240 of the atomizer
212.
[0074] A sensor in the aerosol delivery device/system 100 (e.g., a
puff or flow sensor in the control body 300) may sense the puff.
More generally, a sensor or detector may be implemented to control
of supply of electric power to the heating element 240 when aerosol
generation is desired (e.g., upon draw during use). As such, for
example, there is provided a manner or method for turning off the
power supply to the heating element 240 when the aerosol generation
is not desired during use, and for turning on the power supply to
actuate or trigger the generation of heat by the heating element
240 during draw. Additional representative types of sensing or
detection mechanisms, structure and configuration thereof,
components thereof, and general methods of operation thereof, are
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,424 to Sprinkel, Jr.; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al.; and PCT WO 2010/003480 by
Flick; which are incorporated herein by reference. When the puff is
sensed, the control body 300 may direct current to the heating
element 240 through a circuit including the first heating terminal
234a and the second heating terminal 234b. Accordingly, the heating
element 240 may vaporize the aerosol precursor composition directed
to an aerosolization zone from the reservoir substrate 214 by the
liquid transport element 238. Thus, the mouthpiece 220 may allow
passage of air and entrained vapor (i.e., the components of the
aerosol precursor composition in an inhalable form, for example, as
an aerosol) from the cartridge body 200 to a consumer drawing
thereon. Various other details with respect to the components that
may be included in the cartridge body 200, are provided, for
example, in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0261495 to Novak, III et
al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0075] Various components of an aerosol delivery device/system can
be chosen from components described in the art and commercially
available. Reference is made for example to the reservoir and
heater system for controllable delivery of multiple aerosolizable
materials in an electronic smoking article disclosed in U.S. Pat.
App. Pub. No. 2014/0000638 to Sebastian et al., which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Note further that
portions of the cartridge body 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 are
optional. In this regard, by way of example, the cartridge body 200
may not necessarily include the flow tube 210, the control
component terminal 206, and/or the electronic control component
208, in some instances.
[0076] One particular aspect of the present disclosure is
illustrated, for example, in FIG. 3. In such instances, the
cartridge body 200 may further incorporate a second aerosol
generation arrangement 400 (the atomizer 212 being considered "a
first aerosol generation arrangement") disposed in the outer body
216, longitudinally between the atomizer 212 and the mouthpiece or
mouth-engaging end 220 of the cartridge body 200. In some aspects,
the second aerosol generation arrangement 400 is generally porous
or otherwise configured to allow the passage of air therethrough.
In some particular instances, the second aerosol generation
arrangement 400 may include one or more aerosol-generating elements
425 that may be comprised of at least one or a plurality of pellets
or beads or other appropriate elements or combinations thereof. In
some instances, the at least one or a plurality of pellets or beads
or other appropriate elements or combinations thereof forming the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may be coaxially circumscribed by
a generally tubular-shaped heat conductive member (not shown), if
necessary, and/or circumscribed or otherwise jacketed by insulation
(e.g., a non-woven mat or layer of glass filaments or fibers), or
other suitable material (not shown).
[0077] The overall configuration of the second aerosol generation
arrangement 400 within the cartridge body 200 of the aerosol
delivery device/system 100 can be considered to be generally
cylindrical in nature. Representative preferred beads or other
objects may be produced from a formulation that incorporates one or
more of the flavorant materials disclosed herein (e.g., solid hops,
hop-derived oils, hop-derived extracts, fruit/nut-derived extracts,
and/or synthetic compounds disclosed herein. The beads most
preferably incorporate such components and a visible or non-visible
aerosol forming material (e.g., glycerin or other material that
generates a visible vapor that resembles smoke). That is,
components of the beads are preferably configured to act as
substrate components for volatile flavors, vapor forming materials,
moisture or other liquid(s), and/or aerosol forming materials that
are carried thereby.
[0078] The beads can, in some embodiments, further comprise tobacco
(e.g., particulate tobacco), components of tobacco and/or materials
that are otherwise derived from tobacco (e.g., tobacco extracts
such as aqueous tobacco extracts or nicotine derived from tobacco
including pharmaceutical grade nicotine). In some aspects, the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may include or otherwise comprise
or be configured as, for example, marumarized tobacco beads of
varying shapes and sizes, a monolith of bonded (e.g., sintered)
beads; a porous monolith; a single porous structure; a honeycomb
monolith; a single piece of a porous material; beads of extruded
tobacco; beads of porous material containing tobacco extract (e.g.,
calcium carbonate, ceramic, or the like); reconstituted tobacco
shreds; expanded tobacco shreds; extruded rods of various materials
(including hollow cylinders and slotted rods) containing tobacco
flavors; shavings, granules, capsules, and/or microcapsules of
various materials containing tobacco flavors or other substances,
whether in a liquid or other form; and treatments or combinations
thereof.
[0079] In general, as used herein, the terms "pellets" and "beads"
are meant to include beads, pellets, or other discrete small units
or pieces of that may include (in addition to those otherwise
disclosed herein), for example, carbon pieces, extruded carbon
pieces cut into pellets, ceramic beads, marumarized tobacco pieces,
and the like, or combinations thereof. For example, granules,
pellets or beads can be generally cylindrical or spherical extruded
or compressed granules, pellets or beads comprised of a moistened
mixture or slurry of milled tobacco lamina, fillers (e.g., granular
calcium carbonate), flavors, visible aerosol forming materials and
binders (e.g., carboxy methylcellulose) that are formed, cut or
spun to the desired size and shape, and then dried to retain the
desired configuration. However, such "pellets" or "beads" may
comprise any suitable elements, or combination of elements, meeting
the preferred aspects as disclosed herein. For example, some or all
of the beads or pellets can comprise spherical capsules that are
heat sensitive, so that when included in the aerosol-generating
element and exposed to heat, the rupture or decomposition thereof
causes the release of glycerin, propylene glycol, water, saline,
tobacco flavor and/or nicotine or other substances or additives.
Also, the beads can comprise ceramic or absorbent clay or silica or
absorbent carbon to hold and release an aerosol former. Further, in
some aspects, the beads/pellets may comprise a heat conductive
material such as, for example, heat conductive graphite, heat
conductive ceramic, a metal, tobacco cast on foil, a metal or other
suitable material impregnated with appropriate aerosol-generating
substances such as glycerin and flavor(s), or a suitable cast sheet
material appropriately formed into the desired beads/pellets.
[0080] In one particular example, the beads/pellets (particles) may
be comprised, by weight, of about 20 to about 70% water, about 10
to about 50% glycerin, and 0 to about 5% of a binder (preferably
carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, potassium, or ammonium alginate),
further comprising an additional amount of the flavorant material
(i.e., plant-derived flavorant and/or synthetic flavorant
compound(s)) disclosed herein. The amount of flavorant material
depends, e.g., on the particular type and form of the flavorant
material incorporated. For example, a greater amount of solid hops
material is typically required to provide a comparable effect as a
hop oil or concentrated hop extract. In one particular embodiment,
hops are provided within a bead in solid (milled form), at a
concentration of from about 20% to 70% by weight based on the
entirety of the bead).
[0081] The particles may, in some embodiments, be compressed to
hold the glycerol and, upon compression, may form a porous matrix
that facilitates migration of the aerosol generating components to
promote efficient aerosol formation. The manner by which the
aerosol forming material is contacted with the substrate material
can vary. The aerosol forming material can be applied to a formed
material, can be incorporated into processed materials during
manufacture of those materials, or can be endogenous to that
material. Aerosol-forming material, such as glycerin, can be
dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous liquid, or other suitable
solvent or liquid carrier, and sprayed onto that substrate
material. See, for example, U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2005/0066986
to Nestor et al. and 2012/0067360 to Conner et al.; which are
incorporated herein by reference. The calcium carbonate or other
inorganic filler assists in creating porosity within the particles,
and may also function to absorb heat which may, in some instances
limit or otherwise prevent scorching of the aerosol generating
components, as well as assisting in and promoting aerosol
formation. See also, for example, those types of materials set
forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,831 to Banerjee, et al., and U.S. Pat.
App. Pub. Nos. 2004/0173229 to Crooks et al.; 2011/0271971 to
Conner et al.; and 2012/0042885 to Stone et al.; which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0082] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating elements 425, such
as those in the form of beads or pellets, can be smoke-treated to
impart smoky flavor or aroma. For example, the beads or pellets can
be prepared and then subjected to smoke from a combustible source,
such as a wood source (e.g., wood selected from hickory, maple,
oak, apply, cherry, or mesquite). The beads or pellets can be
treated with the smoke for a time sufficient to impart the desired
smoky flavor or aroma, with an exemplary time range being about 5
to about 45 minutes. The manner in which the beads or pellets are
contacted with smoke can vary, with one example involving heating
wood chips in a container until smoke is produced (e.g., heating
wood chips to a temperature of about 350-400.degree. F.) and
placing the beads or pellets to be treated within a closed
environment with the smoke produced by the wood chips.
[0083] The composition of the aerosol precursor composition of the
first aerosol generation arrangement and the composition of the
aerosol-generating elements of the second aerosol generation
arrangement are advantageously selected so as to complement one
another to produce a desirable sensory experience. In certain
embodiments, for example, the nicotine content of the aerosol
precursor composition and the aerosol-generating elements are
selected such that either or both of the aerosol precursor
composition and the aerosol-generating elements may contain
nicotine or a nicotinic compound or may be viewed as substantially
or completely free of nicotine or a nicotinic compound. In other
words, all nicotine content can be within the aerosol-generating
elements or all nicotine content can be in the aerosol precursor
composition or both compositions can include nicotine in some
form.
[0084] In some aspects, where the aerosol-generating elements 425
comprise, for example, beads or pellets cast or extruded from
materials of the various types set forth above (i.e., a graphite
bead including tobacco extract and glycerin), while "damp" or
otherwise before drying, may be rolled, for example, between
adjacent roller elements, to flatten the shape of the respective
beads/pellets. In some instances, the materials of the various
types set forth above may be extruded in the form of filamentary
strands, wherein the strands may be gathered to form a cylindrical
rod or other suitably shaped material (i.e., relative in size to
the beads/pellets used to otherwise form the aerosol generation
segment) for application in the second aerosol generation
arrangement 400. Upon drying, the flattened beads/pellets may then
be shredded or otherwise processed to form, for example, strands,
flakes, or other filler configuration that is flat or includes a
planar segment that inhibits or prevents roll. Any random
configurations resulting from the shredding process may be
sufficient. In such instances, the flattened and shredded
beads/pellets may then be included in the aerosol-generating
element(s) 425, and the irregular or random configurations thereof
may promote, for instance, a plurality of interstitial air spaces
throughout the aerosol-generating element(s) 425, wherein the
interstitial air spaces may, in turn, promote heat transfer with
the individual objects within the aerosol-generating element(s)
425. That is, heating of the air in the interstitial spaces within
the second aerosol generation arrangement 400 may expose more of
the aerosol-generating element(s) 425 to the heat from the heating
element 240, and thus result in enhanced or otherwise improved
heating of the aerosol-generating element(s) 425. In other
instances, the heat and the first aerosol (i.e., the combination
thereof) produced by the heating element 240/atomizer 212 are
directed through the porous matrix formed by the aerosol-generating
element(s) 425, wherein the heated vapors passing through and
heating the porous aerosol-generating element(s) 425 promotes, for
example, elution (i.e., liquid, fluid, or particulate extraction;
steam distillation; etc.) of an enhancement substance (i.e., a
flavorant or other additive) from the aerosol-generating element(s)
to the first aerosol, or otherwise promotes the enhancement
substance being entrained in, imparted to, reacted with, or
otherwise interacted with the first aerosol. The interaction
between the enhancement substance and the first aerosol may, for
example, change or alter the first aerosol, mix the enhancement
substance with the first aerosol to form an enhanced aerosol or
aerosol mixture, or facilitate a reaction that produces a different
aerosol. In such instances, increased interstitial spaces within
the aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may promote this interaction
process through the second aerosol generation arrangement 400.
[0085] In some aspects, the beads/pellets may originate from a
tobacco material cast on a foil/paper laminate. More particularly,
the tobacco material may comprise, for example, a slurry including
reconstituted tobacco, glycerin, and a binder material. Such a
tobacco material is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.
5,101,839 to Jakob et al. and U.S. Patent Application No.
2010/0186757 to Crooks et al., which are incorporated herein by
reference. In addition, the slurry can incorporate granular
inorganic material (i.e., calcium carbonate). The slurry is cast
unto a paper element of a foil-paper laminate, such as disclosed,
for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,678,013 to Crooks et al. and U.S.
Pat. No. 7,647,932 to Cantrell et al., which is also incorporated
herein by reference, and the assembled cast sheet product is then
dried, for instance by the application of heat (i.e., by heated
air, microwave drying, etc.). The paper element may have, for
instance, a particular porosity or texture to promote an intimate
contact and interaction with the slurry, for instance, over direct
contact between the slurry and the foil. However, the exemplary
aspect presented herein does not preclude casting the tobacco
material (i.e., slurry) directly on a metal foil or other suitable
thin film heat conductor. Once such a laminate is cast, the dried
cast sheet (i.e., the foil/paper/tobacco material) may be shredded,
diced, or otherwise separated into a plurality of cast sheet
portion elements, wherein each such element preferably includes a
portion of the tobacco material (i.e., the substrate) intimately
interacted with a portion of the paper element which, in turn, is
in intimate contact with a portion of the foil element of the
foil-paper laminate. A plurality of the cast sheet portion elements
may then be included in the aerosol-generating element(s) 425
forming the second aerosol generation arrangement 400.
[0086] One skilled in the art will appreciate that, in some
circumstances, the cast sheet portion elements included in the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may cooperate to promote improved
heat transfer to the tobacco material forming a portion of those
cast sheet portion elements or otherwise to abutting elements. More
particularly, in some instances, heat transfer from the heating
element 240 to the tobacco material included in the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may be limited past any direct
interface therebetween, with the heat-conducting strip forming an
additional mechanism for conducting heat from the heating element
240 for heating the outer elements included in the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 and any aerosol-generating
element(s) in contact therewith. In aspects including the cast
sheet portion elements included in the aerosol-generating
element(s) 425, the heat-conductive portions of the foil element
associated with the cast sheet portion elements may form, for
example, a plurality of additional heat conductive pathways. That
is, the cast sheet portion elements used as all or part of the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may provide additional
heat-conductive elements interspersed throughout the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 within the second aerosol
generation arrangement 400 to thereby enhance or otherwise improve
heat transfer to and between the aerosol-generating elements. In
achieving such an aspect, it may be further advantageous to shred
or process a substrate material implemented in, for example, the
cast tobacco sheet substrate material forming the substrate
incorporated within the types of cigarettes commercially marketed
under the trade name "Eclipse" by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company,
as disclosed, e.g., by U.S. Pat. No. 5,469.871 to Barnes et al.
[0087] The pellets or other elements may have smooth, regular outer
shapes (e.g., spheres, cylinders, ovoids, or the like) and/or they
may have irregular outer shapes (e.g., shredded pieces, flakes, or
the like). The aerosol-generating element(s) 425, discretely or
cumulatively, may have a generally cylindrical form within the
second aerosol generation arrangement 400, and may in some
instances include a collection of about 800 to about 1200 generally
spherical beads, each having a mean or nominal diameter of about
0.05 mm to about 4 mm (e.g., about 1 mm.sup.3 in volume, in one
example), with the beads/pellets cumulatively weighing about 450 mg
to about 750 mg (e.g., 600 mg.+-.25%, in one example).
[0088] In one method of preparation, substantially spherical beads
or pellets of aerosol-generating elements can be formed by first
mixing together the desired composition followed by extrusion of
the composition to form an extrudate. The extrudate is then
processed in a spheronizer (e.g., such as spheronizers available
from Caleva Process Solutions Ltd. or LCI Corporation) to produce
variously-sized spheroids that can be processed through a series of
screens to provide the desired size range, such as the sizes noted
above.
[0089] The aerosol-generating elements can be selected so as to
have relatively uniform mean diameter or a range of sizes of
aerosol-generating elements can be included in the second aerosol
generation arrangement 400. Where different size ranges are used in
the same device, the differently sized elements can be arranged in
a gradient or layers within the second aerosol generation
arrangement 400 or the differently sized elements can be randomly
mixed within the aerosol generation arrangement 400. Although not
bound by any particular theory of operation, using
aerosol-generating elements of different sizes in the same aerosol
generation arrangement 400 can provide advantageous pressure drop
changes in the device and/or provide advantageous sensory
characteristics based on the different rates of evaporation
provided by the differently sized elements.
[0090] Preferably, sufficient beads are loaded into the second
aerosol generation arrangement 400 to provide at least about 95
percent of maximum fill, with beads and/or other suitable elements.
It is advantageous to avoid large open pockets within the aerosol
generation arrangement 400 that could allow air traveling through
the aerosol generation arrangement to substantially bypass
interaction with the aerosol-generating elements 425.
[0091] In some instances, a plurality of forms of the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may be selected (e.g.,
aerosol-generating element(s) having different compositions) and
each selected form of the aerosol-generating elements then
subsequently included in the second aerosol generation arrangement
400. In other instances, the selected forms of the
aerosol-generating elements may be combined, prior to inclusion in
the second aerosol generation arrangement 400, to produce an
aerosol-generating element mixture, and the mixture then
subsequently included in the second aerosol generation arrangement
400.
[0092] The atomizer or first aerosol generation arrangement 212 and
the second aerosol generation arrangement 400 may be physically
separate from one another and/or comprise discrete units or
segments within the cartridge body 200. In some instances, as
shown, those segments may be positioned/disposed so that the
downstream end (toward the mouthpiece or mouth-engaging end 220 of
the cartridge body 200) of the atomizer or first aerosol generation
arrangement 212 is adjacent to the upstream end of the second
aerosol generation segment 400 (i.e., the back face of the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425). That is, the atomizer or first
aerosol generation arrangement 212 and the second aerosol
generation segment 400 may be axially aligned in a serial
end-to-end relationship, in some instances adjacent to or abutting
one another. For example, in some instances, though physically
discrete and positioned downstream from the atomizer or first
aerosol generation arrangement 212, it may be desirable for the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 of the second aerosol generation
arrangement 400 to physically contact the heating element 240 at
the downstream end of the atomizer or first aerosol generation
arrangement 212. Alternatively, those segments 212, 400 can be
slightly spaced apart from one another such that the respective
ends or components thereof 240, 425 are not necessarily in physical
contact with the other (i.e., to prevent scorching). One skilled in
the art will appreciate that, in some aspects, the second aerosol
generation arrangement 400 may comprise more than one section or
portion of aerosol-generating element(s) 425.
[0093] In some instances, an additional segment, spacer element, or
separating element (otherwise referred to herein as "a first
separating element"), acting as a spacer or screen (see, e.g.,
element 450 in FIG. 3) may be positioned generally perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body 200, wherein the first
separating element 450 may provide for physical separation of those
two segments 212, 400 while, in some instances, maintaining a heat
conductive relationship therebetween. The first separating element
450 may, in some instances, not be conductive to heat and, in other
instances, the first separating element 450 may not be electrically
conductive. That is, the first separating element 450 may, but not
necessarily, be heat-conductive and/or arranged to conduct heat
from the heating element 240 of the atomizer/first aerosol
generation arrangement 212 to the second aerosol generation
arrangement 400, wherein the aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may
be responsive to the heat and/or accompanying first aerosol to form
a second aerosol. Further, in some instances, the first separating
element 450 may be air permeable or otherwise configured to permit
airflow therethrough, such that a first aerosol generated by the
atomizer/first aerosol generation arrangement 400 can pass
therethrough in the downstream direction. The first separating
element 450 may thus also be configured and/or arranged so as to
maintain the aerosol-generating element(s) 425 within the second
aerosol generation arrangement 400 and separate from the
atomizer/first aerosol generation arrangement 212. In still further
instances, the first separating element 450 may be configured as a
spacer (i.e., extending in a longitudinal direction along the
cartridge body 200 so as to define a thickness) for separating the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 from the heating element 240 of
the atomizer/first aerosol generation arrangement 212, for example,
to minimize or prevent the aerosol-generating element(s) (i.e.,
beads) 425 from being scorched or burned by the heat from the
heating element 240. In some instances, the first separating
element 450 may also be configured as an insulator (i.e., not
electrically conductive) to prevent short-circuiting of the heating
element 240 in the event of contact therebetween.
[0094] Typically, the first separating element 450 is generally
cylindrical or discoid in shape and of one piece construction, and
is air permeable to allow the passage of drawn air through. The
first separating element 450 may be heat conductive in nature, so
that heat generated by the heating element 240 can be readily
transported to the second aerosol generation arrangement 400. The
length (thickness) of the first separating element 450 can vary,
and typically extends from about less than 1 mm up to about 10 mm.
In some instances, the relative longitudinal placement of the first
separating element 450 within the outer body 216, spaces the
interface of the first separating element 450 with the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 at between about 1 mm and up to
about 20 mm (i.e., 7 mm in one example) away from the heating
element 240. Typically, the first separating element 450 is
comprised of a heat resistant material, such as a porous ceramic, a
porous graphite material, a metal (i.e., stainless steel, brass,
copper, etc.) mesh or screen, a high temperature-resistant plastic
or the like. In some instances, the first separating element 450
may include, for example, longitudinally-extending air passageways
formed during design/manufacture, drilled therethrough, or
otherwise molded, extruded, printed (i.e., a 3D printed element
using a 3D printer), or shaped into the spacer element during
manufacture thereof. If desired, the first separating element 450
can incorporate catalytic materials, such as materials
incorporating cerium or copper ions or oxides and/or salts of
cerium and copper ions. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,469,035
and 8,617,263 to Banerjee et al. and U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No.
2007/0215168 to Banerjee et al., which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0095] In instances where the aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may
be circumscribed by an insulation layer, a layer of heat conductive
material (e.g., a layer or strip comprised of metal foil) may be
provided therebetween (not shown). That is, representative
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 include a plurality of pellets
and/or other appropriate elements that can be circumscribed along
its length by a layer of strip of metal foil. A representative
metal foil is, for example, aluminum foil having a thickness of
about 0.01 mm to about 0.05 mm. Preferably, the metal foil extends
along the entire length of the outer co-axial surface of the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425; and it may be preferred that the
metal foil extends over (i.e., at least partially overlaps) the
first separating element 450. The heat conductive material can be
provided by means other than the use of metal foil. For example,
the layer of metal foil can be replaced by a metal mesh or screen.
Alternatively, the metal foil can be replaced by a heat conductive
fabric, such as a layer or sheet of graphite fibers or heat
conductive ceramic fibers. Alternatively, the heat conductive
material can be provided by application of a heat conductive ink,
such as a coating of ink or paint that incorporates metal
particles, graphite fibers, particles of heat conductive ceramic
materials, or the like.
[0096] In some aspects, another spacer element, or another
separating element (otherwise referred to herein as "a second
separating element"), acting as a spacer or screen (see, e.g.,
element 475 in FIG. 3) may be positioned generally perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body 200, wherein the second
separating element 475 may provide for physical separation of the
second aerosol generation arrangement 400 from the mouthpiece or
mouth-engaging end 220 of the cartridge body 200. That is, the
second separating element 475 may, but not necessarily, be
heat-conductive and/or arranged to conduct heat from the second
aerosol generation arrangement 400 and through the mouthpiece or
mouth-engaging end 220 of the cartridge body 200. However, the
second separating element 475 may be air permeable or otherwise
configured to permit airflow therethrough, such that a first
aerosol generated by the atomizer/first aerosol generation
arrangement 212 and/or a second aerosol generated by the second
aerosol generation arrangement 400, can pass therethrough in the
downstream direction and through the mouthpiece or mouth-engaging
end 220 of the cartridge body 200. The second separating element
475 may thus also be configured and/or arranged so as to maintain
the aerosol-generating element(s) 425 within the second aerosol
generation arrangement 400, without loss of any of the
aerosol-generating element(s) through the mouthpiece or
mouth-engaging end 220 of the cartridge body 200.
[0097] In some aspects, in the alternative to discrete first and
second separating elements 450, 475 being implemented in addition
to the aerosol-generating element(s) 425, the second aerosol
generation arrangement 400 may comprise a cartridge 500 (see, e.g.,
FIG. 4) having an elongate tubular body 525 and opposed end members
550, 575, wherein each of the end members 550, 575 may be
heat-conductive and/or air permeable in a similar manner to the
first and second separating elements 450, 475. The elongate tubular
body 525 may thus be further configured to receive the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 and to cooperate with the opposed
end members 550, 575 to contain the aerosol-generating element(s)
425 therein. The assembled cartridge 500 may thus be configured to
be received as a unit (forming the second aerosol generation
arrangement 400) by the outer body or tubular member 216 of the
cartridge body 200.
[0098] In use, the mouthpiece or mouth-engaging end 220 of the
cartridge body 200 of the aerosol delivery system 100 is inserted
into the mouth of the user. The atomizer/first aerosol generation
arrangement 212 is then actuated, for example, by the user drawing
(e.g., a suction) on the mouthpiece or mouth-engaging end 220 of
the cartridge body 200. The heating element 240 and the liquid
transport element 238 are configured so as to be in a heat exchange
relationship. That is, the heat generated by the heating element
240 acts to heat the aerosol precursor composition carried by the
liquid transport element 238 to produce a first aerosol. The heat
generated by the heating element 240 and the first aerosol are then
drawn into engagement with and through the second aerosol
generation arrangement 400 (i.e., through the aerosol-generating
element(s) 425) toward the inhalation hole defined by the
mouthpiece or mouth-engaging end 220. In some instances, the heat
from the heating element 240 may interact with the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 to generate a second aerosol. The
second aerosol may interact or mix with the first aerosol to form a
tertiary aerosol, the tertiary aerosol being the aerosol delivered
to the user by way of the mouthpiece 220 in response to the draw
imparted thereto by the user. In some instances, the interaction
between the heat and/or the first aerosol and the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may cause an enhancement
substance to be imparted to the first aerosol so as to produce an
enhanced aerosol. For example, a medicament adsorbed on the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 may react with the first aerosol
and/or the heat, or otherwise be de-adsorbed from the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 by the first aerosol and/or the
heat, and combine with the first aerosol to form the enhanced
aerosol. In still other instances, the aerosol-generating
element(s) 425 may be configured such that interaction of the first
aerosol therewith causes heat to be drawn away from the first
aerosol (i.e., cooling of the first aerosol). When appropriately
implemented by the user, at least the first aerosol generated by
the atomizer 212 and affected by the second aerosol generation
arrangement 400 aerosol are generated and drawn into the mouth of
the user.
The components of the second aerosol generation arrangement 400
and/or the aerosol-generating element(s) 425 therein can vary. In
general, the second aerosol generation arrangement 400 and/or the
aerosol-generating element(s) 425 therein may incorporate
components that can be vaporized, aerosolized or entrained in air
drawn through the aerosol delivery system 100 during use. Most
preferably, those components, by themselves or in cooperation with
the first aerosol produced by the first aerosol generation
arrangement 212, provide sensory and organoleptic effects, such as
aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, visible aerosol sensations, and the like.
Examples of components of the first and/or second aerosol
generation arrangement 212, 400 that are drawn into the mouth of
the user during draw include water (e.g., as water vapor), visible
or not visible aerosol forming materials (e.g., glycerin), various
volatile flavors (including the plant-derived flavorants and/or
synthetic flavor compound(s) disclosed herein, and optionally
including one or more additional flavorants, e.g., vanillin and
menthol), volatile components of tobacco (e.g., nicotine), and the
like. In some embodiments comprising two aerosol generation
compositions, the plant-derived flavorants and/or synthetic flavor
compound(s) disclosed herein are provided in the first composition
only; in some such embodiments, the plant-derived flavorants and/or
synthetic flavor compound(s) disclosed herein are provided in the
second composition only; and in further embodiments, the
plant-derived flavorants and/or synthetic flavor compound(s)
disclosed herein are provided in the first and second composition
(where they may be provided, for example, in different quantities
and/or where they may provide a combination of flavors/aromas by
incorporating different plant-derived flavorants and/or synthetic
flavor compound(s) disclosed herein).
[0099] Although an article according to the disclosure and
incorporating the disclosed plant-derived flavorants and/or
synthetic flavor compound(s) disclosed herein, may take on a
variety of embodiments, as discussed in detail below, the use of
the article by a consumer will be similar in scope. In particular,
the article can be provided as a single unit or as a plurality of
components that are combined by the consumer for use and then are
dismantled by the consumer thereafter. Generally, a smoking article
according to the disclosure can comprise a first unit that is
engagable and disengagable with a second unit, the first unit
comprising the resistive heating element, and the second unit
comprising the electrical power source. In some embodiments, the
second unit further can comprise one or more control components
that actuate or regulate current flow from the electrical power
source. The first unit can comprise a distal end that engages the
second unit and an opposing, proximate end that includes a
mouthpiece (or simply the mouthend) with an opening at a proximate
end thereof. The first unit can comprise an air flow path opening
into the mouthpiece of the first unit, and the air flow path can
provide for passage of aerosol formed from the resistive heating
element into the mouthpiece. In preferred embodiments, the first
unit can be disposable. Likewise, the second unit can be
reusable.
[0100] During use, the consumer initiates heating of the resistive
heating element, the heat produced by the resistive heating element
aerosolizes the aerosol precursor composition and, optionally,
further inhalable substances. Such heating releases at least a
portion of the aerosol precursor composition in the form of an
aerosol (which can include any further inhalable substances
included therewith), and such aerosol is provided within a space
inside the cartridge that is in fluid communication with the
mouthend of the cartridge. When the consumer inhales on the mouth
end of the cartridge, air is drawn through the cartridge, and the
combination of the drawn air and the aerosol is inhaled by the
consumer as the drawn materials exit the mouth end of the cartridge
(and any optional mouthpiece present) into the mouth of the
consumer. To initiate heating, the consumer may actuate a
pushbutton, capacitive sensor, or similar component that causes the
resistive heating element to receive electrical energy from the
battery or other energy source (such as a capacitor). The
electrical energy may be supplied for a pre-determined length of
time or may be manually controlled. Preferably, flow of electrical
energy does not substantially proceed in between puffs on the
article (although energy flow may proceed to maintain a baseline
temperature greater than ambient temperature--e.g., a temperature
that facilitates rapid heating to the active heating temperature).
In further embodiments, heating may be initiated by the puffing
action of the consumer through use of various sensors, as otherwise
described herein. Once the puff is discontinued, heating will stop
or be reduced. When the consumer has taken a sufficient number of
puffs so as to have released a sufficient amount of the inhalable
substance (e.g., an amount sufficient to equate to a typical
smoking experience), the cartridge can be removed from the control
housing and discarded. Indication that the cartridge is spent
(i.e., the aerosol precursor composition has been substantially
removed by the consumer) can be provided. In some embodiments, a
single cartridge can provide more than a single smoking experience
and thus may provide a sufficient content of aerosol precursor
composition to simulate as much as a full pack of conventional
cigarettes or even more.
[0101] Although the various figures described herein illustrate the
control body and the cartridge in a working relationship, it is
understood that the control body and the cartridge can exist as
individual devices. Accordingly, any discussion otherwise provided
herein in relation to the components in combination also should be
understood as applying to the control body and the cartridge as
individual and separate components.
[0102] In another aspect, the invention can be directed to kits
that provide a variety of components as described herein. For
example, a kit can comprise a control body with one or more
cartridges. A kit further can comprise a control body with one or
more charging components. A kit further can comprise a control body
with one or more batteries. A kit further may comprise a control
body with one or more cartridges and one or more charging
components and/or one or more batteries. In further embodiments, a
kit may comprise a plurality of cartridges. A kit further may
comprise a plurality of cartridges and one or more batteries and/or
one or more charging components. The inventive kits further can
include a case (or other packaging, carrying, or storage component)
that accommodates one or more of the further kit components. The
case can be a reusable hard or soft container. Further, the case
can be simply a box or other packaging structure.
[0103] In a further embodiment, the smoking article into which the
disclosed flavorants is incorporated is a heat-not-burn (HNB)
product or a "tobacco heating product." Certain such products are
described, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
16/110,223 to Hejazi et al., filed Aug. 23, 2018, which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Further various
manners and methods for incorporating tobacco into smoking
articles, and particularly smoking articles that are designed so as
to not purposefully burn virtually all of the tobacco within those
smoking articles are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,874 to Brooks
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,932 to Cantrell et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
8,079,371 to Robinson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,549 to Banerjee
et al.; and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2007/0215167 to Crooks et al.;
the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in
their entireties. Some such tobacco heating products can comprise a
solid or semi-solid material that may be a tobacco or
tobacco-derived material. In some implementations, such a material
may comprise tobacco-containing beads, tobacco shreds, tobacco
strips, reconstituted tobacco material (e.g., an extruded or caste
sheet substrate), or combinations thereof, and/or a mix of finely
ground tobacco, tobacco extract, spray dried tobacco extract, or
other tobacco form mixed with optional inorganic materials (such as
calcium carbonate), optional flavors, and aerosol forming materials
to form a substantially solid or moldable (e.g., extrudable)
substrate. Gels and suspensions may also be utilized. Some
representative types of solid and semi-solid aerosol generating
component constructions and formulations are disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 8,424,538 to Thomas et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,464,726 to
Sebastian et al.; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2015/0083150 to Conner et
al.; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2015/0157052 to Ademe et al.; and U.S.
Pat. App. Pub. No. 2017/0000188 to Nordskog et al., filed Jun. 30,
2015, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. The
disclosed flavorants can be incorporated within such devices with
the tobacco or tobacco-derived material (e.g., as flavorant beads
along with tobacco-containing beads, as flavorant mixed with the
tobacco or tobacco-derived material or as a reconstituted material
comprising both tobacco and flavorant) or in a portion of the
device separate from the tobacco or tobacco-derived material.
[0104] In a still further embodiment, the disclosed flavorants can
be incorporated within a smokeless tobacco product. Examples of
smokeless tobacco products include loose moist snuff (e.g., snus);
loose dry snuff; chewing tobacco; pelletized tobacco pieces;
extruded or formed tobacco strips, pieces, rods, cylinders or
sticks; finely divided ground powders; finely divided or milled
agglomerates of powdered pieces and components; flake-like pieces;
molded tobacco pieces; gums; rolls of tape-like films; readily
water-dissolvable or water-dispersible films or strips; meltable
compositions; lozenges; pastilles; or capsule-like materials
possessing an outer shell and an inner region. Various types of
smokeless tobacco products are described or referenced in US Pat.
Pub. No 2012/0152265 to Dube et al., which is incorporated herein
by reference. Further ingredients can be admixed with, or otherwise
incorporated within, smokeless tobacco compositions including
flavorants according to the present disclosure. Exemplary
encapsulated additives are described, for example, in WO
2010/132444 to Atchley, which has been previously incorporated by
reference herein. See also, the smokeless tobacco ingredients set
forth in US Pat. Pub. Nos. 2012/0055494 to Hunt et al. and
2012/0199145 to Byrd et al., which are incorporated by reference
herein.
[0105] Referring to FIG. 5, a representative snus type of tobacco
product comprising a concentrate or isolate of the present
invention is shown. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates a smokeless
tobacco product 40 having a water-permeable outer pouch 42
containing a smokeless tobacco composition 44. Any of the
components of the tobacco product can comprise a flavorant as
described herein (e.g., the interior or exterior of the pouch
lining or a portion of the smokeless tobacco composition contained
therein).
[0106] The amount of flavorant of the present disclosure
incorporated within a tobacco composition or tobacco product can
depend on the desired function of the flavorant (e.g., whether it
is the sole flavorant), the chemical makeup of the flavorant, and
the type of tobacco composition to which the flavorant is
added.
Experimental
[0107] Aspects of the present invention are more fully illustrated
by the following examples, which are set forth to illustrate
certain aspects of the present invention and are not to be
construed as limiting thereof.
EXAMPLE 1
[0108] A hybrid smoking article was prepared with the following
components: [0109] 1 mm Diameter Bead (containing milled hop):
[0110] 25.8% water [0111] 15.4% Glycerin [0112] 0.7% Carboxymethyl
Cellulose (binder) [0113] 58.1% Milled Hops [0114] Aerosol
precursor: [0115] 60% Glycerin [0116] 35.2% Propylene Glycol [0117]
4.8% Nicotine package (including acids)
[0118] The beads and aerosol precursor components were formulated
and incorporated within a smoking article in the manner depicted in
FIG. 3 (wherein a plurality of the 1 mm diameter beads were
incorporated as aerosol-generating elements 425 and the aerosol
precursor was incorporated within the reservoir 214.
EXAMPLE 2
[0119] A sample of Cascade hops (alpha acid 8.3%) was extracted in
room temperature isopropanol and filtered to provide a solution.
The solution was subjected to qualitative analysis using gas
chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to determine the volatile
compounds associated therewith. The GC was conducted on an Agilent
7890B instrument with 30 m column (DB-WAXETR phase) at a flow rate
of 1.5 mL/min under helium with 1 .mu.L injection volume, and
analyzed by MS on an Agilent 5977A instrument. Relevent parameters
are noted below in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 GC/MS Operating Conditions Parameter Setting
Parameter Setting GC Parameters (Agilent 7890B) Oven Program Column
Phase DB-WAXETR Initial Temperature 37.degree. C. Length 30 m
Initial Time 2 min Internal Diameter 0.25 mm Rate 1 2.5.degree.
C./min Film Thickness 0.25 .mu.m Final Temperature 230.degree. C.
Flow Mode Constant Flow Final Time 25.8 min Flow Rate 1.5 mL/min
Run Time 105 min Inlet Mode Splitless Purge Flow 50 mL/min Purge
Time 0.75 min Gas Saver On Gas Saver Flow 20 mL/min Gas Saver Time
3 min Gas Type Helium Inlet Temperature 250.degree. C. Injection
Volume 1 .mu.L MS Parameters (Agilent 5977A) Solvent Delay 7 min MS
acquisition mode SCAN Transfer Line Temperature 250.degree. C. Mass
range 15-550 amu MS Source Temperature 230.degree. C. Threshold 150
MS Quad Temperature 150.degree. C. Sampling Rate 2
[0120] Peaks were correlated and assigned quality matches from the
Wiley 9.sup.th Library of mass spectra (indicating the degree of
confidence in identification of the peak). Quality matches above 90
were considered good matches, quality matches above 80 were
carefully reviewed, and quality matches below 80 were considered
poor matches and were not reported. A total of 91 compounds were
identified, as provided below in Table 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Compounds Identified in Cascade hops extract
using GC/MS RT (min) Compound Peak Area Quality Match 7.19
2,6-dimethyl-2,4-heptadiene 1.18E+06 7.49E+05 9.07E+05 95 96 95
7.55 camphene 9.85E+04 1.25E+05 1.04E+05 95 96 95 7.64 camphene
3.83E+05 2.62E+05 3.19E+05 94 96 96 7.96 isopropyl isovalerate
3.28E+05 3.04E+05 3.13E+05 97 97 95 8.26
2,3,6-trimethyl-1,5-heptadiene 6.67E+05 5.98E+05 6.15E+05 89 91 87
8.34 isobutyl isobutyrate 1.01E+06 9.62E+05 1.02E+06 93 94 93 8.53
2,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene 3.43E+07 3.76E+07 2.76E+07 95 95 95 8.79
2,6-dimethyl-2-cis-6-octadiene 4.79E+05 3.52E+05 3.20E+05 96 97 94
9.12 2-methylbutyl acetate 9.76E+04 7.26E+04 6.81E+04 91 91 89 9.31
carvomenthene 1.61E+05 1.58E+05 1.39E+05 86 89 91 9.54 xylene
1.04E+05 8.12E+04 9.48E+04 88 94 92 10.59 beta-myrcene 2.61E+08
2.69E+08 2.67E+08 97 97 97 10.79 alpha-terpinene 3.21E+05 2.78E+05
2.95E+05 93 94 94 11.41 limonene 4.10E+06 4.02E+06 4.04E+06 98 98
98 11.59 2-methylbutyl isobutyrate 6.28E+06 6.43E+06 6.20E+06 96 97
97 11.71 beta-phellandrene 2.33E+06 2.35E+06 2.28E+06 95 95 95
11.98 2-methyl-1-butanol 1.33E+06 1.48E+06 1.33E+06 95 96 95 12.52
5,5-dimethyl-1-ethyl-1,3- 1.72E+05 1.81E+05 2.01E+05 85 86 88
cyclopentadiene 12.92 cis-ocimene 3.43E+05 2.35E+05 2.27E+05 94 92
91 13.04 cis-ocimene 9.41E+05 6.60E+05 5.93E+05 98 97 97 13.21
tricyclene 3.62E+05 2.90E+05 3.41E+05 85 89 87 13.68 beta-ocimene
2.06E+06 1.69E+06 1.72E+06 98 98 98 14.91 2-methylbutyl 2-methyl
butyrate 2.54E+05 2.96E+05 2.64E+05 89 92 90 15.63 amyl isovalerate
5.04E+05 5.36E+05 5.12E+05 97 96 95 16.78 tiglyl alcohol 2.71E+05
2.13E+05 1.86E+05 93 91 94 17.17 2-methylbutyl isobutyrate 4.93E+05
4.99E+05 4.95E+05 93 92 94 20.29 1-methylene-2-methyl-3- 4.43E+05
3.83E+05 2.42E+05 90 87 91 isopropenylcyclopentane 20.94
alpha-terpinolene 3.41E+05 2.82E+05 2.82E+05 91 89 88 22.77 acetic
acid 1.04E+06 1.06E+06 1.03E+06 88 90 91 23.52 alpha-ylangene
1.04E+06 9.81E+05 1.00E+06 93 93 93 23.91 alpha-copaene 3.62E+06
3.59E+06 3.66E+06 97 98 97 27.23 2-undecanone 7.47E+05 7.23E+05
7.97E+05 83 83 82 27.47 linalool 3.58E+06 3.43E+06 3.51E+06 98 98
98 28.17 isobutyric acid 2.25E+06 2.53E+06 2.55E+06 98 89 91 28.67
caryophyllene 5.76E+07 5.93E+07 5.87E+07 99 99 99 31.96
alpha-humulene 1.30E+08 1.34E+08 1.32E+08 97 97 98 32.25
eudesm-4-ene 1.96E+06 1.98E+06 1.78E+06 96 96 96 32.68
beta-farnesene 6.57E+07 7.14E+07 7.05E+07 95 95 95 32.84
gamma-muurolene 6.61E+06 6.42E+06 6.37E+06 95 97 97 33.93
beta-selinene 1.11E+07 1.13E+07 1.09E+07 98 98 98 34.22
alpha-selinene 1.16E+07 1.11E+07 1.14E+07 97 96 97 34.47 alpha
muurolene 3.15E+06 2.34E+06 2.73E+06 94 94 95 34.83 beta-bisabolene
1.65E+06 1.70E+06 1.57E+06 93 92 92 35.20 alpha-bergamotene
3.29E+06 3.40E+06 3.29E+06 94 94 93 35.41 gamma-curcumene 2.63E+05
2.79E+05 2.23E+05 87 87 89 35.81 gamma-muurolene 7.17E+06 7.63E+06
6.94E+06 96 98 97 35.88 delta-cadinene 1.06E+07 1.04E+07 1.08E+07
98 98 99 36.10 farnesene 2.84E+06 3.38E+06 3.27E+06 97 96 95 36.50
neryl acetate 2.57E+06 2.62E+06 2.72E+06 90 90 90 36.77
1,2,3,4,4a,7-hexahydro-1,6- 1.52E+06 12352+97 15098+05 94 95 95
dimethyl-4-(1-methylethyl)- naphthalene 37.22 alpha-cadinene
1.27E+06 1.28E+06 1.28E+06 96 96 97 37.49 linalyl formate 4.21E+05
4.32E+05 4.26E+05 83 83 83 38.05 4-methyl-2-pentenoic acid 4.26E+05
5.03E+05 5.75E+05 92 95 95 38.34 nerol 2.33E+05 2.95E+05 2.93E+05
91 88 86 38.64 2-tridecanone 4.20E+06 4.48E+06 4.44E+06 92 92 91
38.87 neryl 2-methylpropanoate 5.86E+06 6.58E+06 6.25E+06 92 93 93
39.21 epoxycyclododecane 2.41E+06 2.70E+06 2.32E+06 87 85 86 39.92
7-decen-2-one 1.48E+05 1.58E+05 1.73E+05 82 82 80 40.21 hexanoic
acid 3.61E+05 7.17E+05 6.19E+05 87 81 85 40.41 geraniol 1.30E+07
1.41E+07 1.38E+07 97 97 97 40.97 2-tetradecanone 2.40E+05 2.50E+05
2.36E+05 84 83 84 42.67 isoamyl acetic acid 2.61E+05 3.75E+05
4.40E+05 90 93 89 43.19 geranyl isovalerate 3.04E+05 3.72E+05
2.29E+05 89 87 89 43.44 decahydro-4H- 2.74E+06 2.79E+06 2.96E+06 83
83 83 cyclopentacyclooctene 43.71 neophytadiene 4.58E+06 3.85E+06
4.54E+06 96 95 95 44.51 2-methyl-2-pentenoic acid 2.68E+07 3.01E+07
3.30E+07 94 94 94 44.86 phytol 8.55E+05 2.60E+05 3.03E+05 94 92 91
45.55 e-icosyne 3.16E+05 3.08E+05 4.03E+05 85 83 83 45.91 phytol
1.73E+06 1.31E+06 1.33E+06 96 91 91 46.18 cyclododecane 4.67E+06
8.46E+05 7.38E+05 86 82 80 47.11 2-pentadecanone 6.98E+05 6.99E+05
6.18E+05 91 87 88 47.50 cyclododecanol 2.25E+06 2.40E+06 2.12E+06
85 85 86 48.15 cubenol 9.19E+05 9.76E+05 9.29E+05 90 86 86 48.66
octanoic acid 8.30E+05 9.32E+05 9.10E+05 95 94 94 49.14
(E,Z)-1,3-cyclododecadiene 1.48E+07 1.55E+07 1.50E+07 82 83 83
49.74 geranyl hexanoate 3.13E+05 1.73E+05 1.71E+05 84 88 84 51.84
1,5,5,8-tetramethyl-3,7- 7.16E+05 6.12E+05 6.89E+05 89 86 89
cycloundecandien-1-ol 52.27 gamma-cadinene 1.40E+06 1.44E+06
1.42E+06 89 89 89 52.59 nonanoic acid 1.02E+06 8.70E+05 9.19E+05 82
85 84 53.70 trans-bigeranylidene 1.39E+06 1.28E+06 1.18E+06 85 84
80 54.97 juniper camphor 1.05E+06 1.02E+06 9.85E+05 88 88 88 56.11
caryophyllene oxide 1.69E+06 1.77E+06 1.77E+06 89 88 86 57.83
9-hydroxy-linalool 5.05E+05 4.83E+05 4.61E+05 88 84 83 58.13 9
decenoic acid 3.62E+06 3.82E+06 3.96E+06 94 94 93 59.21 farnesol
isomer 1.63E+06 1.78E+06 1.95E+06 92 91 90 65.81 methyl linolenate
2.11E+06 2.24E+06 2.40E+06 85 84 83 72.70 dehydrohumulinic acid
4.75E+06 5.62E+06 1.15E+07 86 88 88 73.10 dehydrohumulinic acid
2.46E+07 3.31E+07 4.79E+07 84 90 85 76.17 palmitic acid 1.35E+07
1.40E+07 1.52E+07 93 95 91 82.15 lupulone 9.86E+08 1.03E+09
1.06E+09 89 89 88 88.43 methyl linolenate 1.72E+07 1.91E+07
2.02E+07 81 85 82
[0121] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention
will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention
pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the
foregoing description. Therefore, it is to be understood that the
invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments
disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended
to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although
specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
* * * * *